And you thought you hated this sappy holiday more than anyone.
Authorities in the Russian province of Belgorod have deemed the lovers’ holiday a threat to “spiritual security” and claim that the holiday encourages promiscuity. As a result, they’re encouraging schools, businesses and nightclubs to abstain from promoting this predominantly Western holiday.
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Grigory Bolotnov, a spokesman for the Governor of Belgorod, told Bloomberg that Valentine’s Day promotes “amorousness rather than love” and added that “it’s designed to swell the emotions, and you know what kind of teenage liaisons happen then.” Wink, wink, nudge nudge.
This move comes as part of a recent directive that aims to promote “spiritual security” in the once atheist, now Greek Orthodox nation. The directive also discourages celebrating Halloween on the grounds that the holiday is falsely spiritual. Which prompts us to ask: No love? No trick-or-treating? What will Russia say nyet to next? (via Reuters)
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