Moscow’s Red Square to be closed... one day

One of Moscow’s biggest tourist attractions, Red Square, may be closed to the public for several months. Its pavement is in need of a lengthy repair.

The reconstruction plans were announced by the Head of the Administrative Board of the President, Vladimir Kozhin.

While the stones themselves are ‘in ideal condition’, the earth underneath leaves much to be desired, the Kremlin official told Echo Moskvy radio station.

Kozhin admitted the work had been postponed several times already ‘for financial reasons’ but said that it eventually must be done.

He said the works will take at least six to ten months. He added it was hard to plan the reconstruction, because Red Square is a place where many state events take place, including the military parade on Victory Day in May.

Last year’s parade was the first in years to include tanks and other military hardware. Moscow’s government allocated more then $US 2 million for repainting pavement and granite sidings in Red Square and nearby areas following the event.

Later on Thursday spokesman for the board Viktor Khrekov explained that the renovation project will not be launched ‘any time soon’.