History of St. Petersburg: Events marking the 20th anniversary of restoring the historical name to the city

At the Mariinsky Palace in St. Petersburg opened "Leningrad - St. Petersburg. Restoration of the name" exhibition. The exhibition is timed to the 20th anniversary of the restoring to the city its historic name - St. Petersburg. The exhibition is organized by the Office for Information and Public Relations of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg.

April 30, 1991 the Leningrad City Soviet of People’s Deputies of the 21st convocation adopted the Decision "On conducting a survey among the population of Leningrad regarding the restoration of the original name to the city." June 12, 1991, simultaneously with the elections of the mayor of the city, was conducted a survey of the population. Citizens were asked to answer the following question: "Do you wish to return to our city its original name - St. Petersburg?". 64.69% of the population having the right to vote took part in the poll. More than a half of them (54.86%) voted for the return to the city the name of St. Petersburg. Already June 25, 1991 deputies of the Leningrad City Council appealed to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR with the proposal to rename the city. September 6, 1991 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet issued a decree to return to Leningrad its historical name - St. Petersburg.

The exhibition marking this event features the works by a famous Petersburg photographer Stanislaw Chabutkin, made from the mid-1970s to the year 2010.

September 6, 2011 at St. Isaac's Square will take place a gala concert in honor of the 20th anniversary of the return to the city its historical name - St. Petersburg.

At the beginning of the concert, St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko and Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Vadim Tyulpanov will address the citizens with a welcoming speech.

The gala concert at the St. Isaac's Square will be attended by Honor Guard and a combined orchestra of the Western Military District, belfries of Peter and Paul cathedral and St. Vladimir cathedral, the Smolny Cathedral Choir conducted by Vladimir Begletsova, Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre under the direction of People's Artist of Russia Valery Gergiev, People's Artist of Russia Vasily Gerello, People's Artist of Russia Olga Borodina.