St. Petersburg's oldest nude beach is under threat of closure as local authorities aim to turn the area into a "family-friendly" resort.
The Dunes, located in Sestroretsk, 30 kilometers northwest of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland, has long been a favorite haunt for nudists, but plans are under way to rebrand the beach for regular usage, a spokesman for the local district authorities said Tuesday.
"We are doing everything possible to survey the area and register it as one of the city's official city beaches," the spokesman told the Interfax news agency. "It will become a well-equipped, secure spot. There will be no nudists. There are certain rules that have to be followed in popular public places."
The spokesman said local authorities would offer disheartened nudist beachgoers an alternative spot.
"Of course, they'll be offered some other place, such as by the lakes on the district's border, where families with children don't go."
The Dunes, which in 2008 was recognized by a U.S.-based publication as one of the best 1,000 naked beaches in the world, has been used by free-spirited sunbathers since the 1960s and, in 1992, was granted official nude-beach status.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.