NO ROMANCE ON AIR ON 14TH FEB IN RUSSIA!

The southern Russian region of Belgorod has canceled official Valentine's Day celebrations due to concerns about its impact on young people.

Under a decree reportedly signed by Deputy Governor Oleg Polukhin, authorities should not allow celebrations of St. Valentine's Day and Halloween at educational, cultural, and other institutions.

Reports say the university in the town has banned festivities on February 14 - including concerts and discos.

The local zoo also has canceled discounts for couples.

Belgorod's regional governor said the holiday went against Russian cultural traditions.

Grigory Bolotnov, a spokesman for the governor's office, was quoted as saying the holiday "has nothing to do with our traditions."

"Society has to think about the consequences," said Grigory Bolotnov, from the department for relations with social and religious bodies, citing fears that many people see the romantic holiday as an excuse to get drunk.

"We could have just as well have introduced a Vodka Day," he told The Times of London.

"Marking this sort of holiday means that tomorrow we could end up creating other celebrations, such as a National Beer Day or a Day of Marijuana."

Bolotnov said the ban extended only to public celebrations and that individuals would not be prevented from exchanging tokens of love privately.
Source: rferl.org