Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has taken the side of Moscow locals demanding the Alma-Atinskaya Subway Station under construction to be named Brateyevo, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.
Initially, the station was to be called Brateyevo. But Kazakh Ambassador Zautbek Turisbekov requested a subway station to be named Alma-Atinskaya in honour of the legendary Panfilov’s Division. The division was formed in 1941 and played an important role in defending Moscow. Nikolai Shumakov, Chief Architect of Metrogiprotrans, proposed the station to be named Alma-Atinskaya. According to the order of the Moscow administration N 915-РП of November 29, 2011, the station was renamed from Brateyevo to Alma-Atinskaya.
Over 1,200 locals protested and demanded the old name back. Vladislav Uspensky, a local, reminded that the Alma-Atinskaya Street is far from the station and is one of the smallest in the area.
Ruf Ageyeva, a PhD in Philosophy, said that the issue was discussed in October and was postponed. According to the law on naming territorial units, streets and subway stations of Moscow passed on October 8, 1997, any name needs to be used as orientation. Brateyevo is the only suitable name in this case. Mayor Sobyanin said that the local inhabitants are to decide.
