MOSCOW, 4 Sept - RIA Novosti. Moscow celebrates its traditional City Day on Saturday and Sunday. However, in connection with the series of terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of innocent people in the capital and other regions of the country, the capital's authorities have decided to refrain from holding any official and entertainment events.
"This decision does not mean that Muscovites have been frightened by terrorists," reads a statement that RIA Novosti has received from the mayor's office and the city government. It continues: "We are taking the decision to refrain from official events as the capital of Russia, which should always be together with the country."
The organising committee has made changes to the event programme.
Many of the decorations that had been put up around the capital had already been taken down by Friday. They will be used to mark City Day next year and will be stored until that time in warehouses in the capital.
Events to honour Muscovites, open new facilities, conferences and exhibitions have not been cancelled. City Day will start on Saturday with the ceremonial laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Gardens (by the Kremlin wall). The mayor's office will host a ceremony on the same day to award the winners of Russian language contest held overseas.
The changes to the programme have not affected the sporting calendar: the Moscow International Rowing Marathon, wedley relay which combines many disciplines, international equestrian events, the athletics competition Russian Challenge -2004, and an athletics meeting between Russia and the US.
Young Muscovites will plant trees along the banks of the Yauza river on September 5.
