Mikhail Razvozhayev, governor of Sevastopol, called Valentine's Day a "fake" holiday and urged to send letters to soldiers instead of valentines. He reminded that Russia has an Orthodox Christian analogy of this holiday, Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity. He told RIA "Novosti" about this on February 14.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, head of Sevastopol, a city annexed by Russia in 2014, called Valentine's Day a "fake" holiday imposed by the Western entertainment industry. And Russians, according to him, "succumbed to the provocation." Instead of valentines, he suggested writing letters to soldiers and reminded about Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, an Orthodox Christian holiday.
"It's beautiful: hearts, flowers, 'like everywhere else in the world.’ Except that there is nothing good in this 'like everywhere else in the world.’ What happens to people who renounce their origins and faith, we see from the example of Ukraine. It's equally normal for them: to ban Farther Frost and put on a carnival costume with swastikas at a kindergarten matinee," Razvozhayev says.
Celebrating Valentine's Day was banned this year in schools and colleges in Bashkortostan. In schools of the Oktyabrsky district of Ufa, the principals were asked to conduct "explanatory work" with teachers so that students would not celebrate February 14. A day before, a local resident complained about teachers to the local authorities and demanded not to hold thematic events. In her opinion, the holiday "jeopardizes the institution of marriage and promotes free relationships."
At the Uchaly College of Mining Industry, the holiday was allegedly banned by the Republican Ministry of Education. On February 14, students listened to stories about Book Giving Day and had a "lesson in courage" with Afghanistan war veterans.
