A century in the mirror of the press

The monument to V.I. Lenin is being dismantled

The BTA agency reported that the temporary city council of the Bulgarian capital, headed by former dissident Alexander Karkachanov, decided to dismantle the 15-meter monument to V.I. Lenin, which 25 years ago was installed in the center of Sofia opposite the building of the Central Committee of the BKP.

The site freed in this way will be subsequently used for the construction of a metro station. And the sculpture itself, as the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency writes, will be “re-registered” in a “suitable place” in a new quality. It will be preserved as “an example of monumental art from the period of totalitarianism.”

Recently, the monument to V.I. Lenin in Sofia has become the target of attacks by anti-communist demonstrators.

On trial in Beijing

BEIJING, 25. (TASS). Today's Beijing newspapers are publishing a brief note from the Xinhua Agency about the debates between the parties in the Jiang Qing case that began yesterday in the first session of the special court. The agency only reports that the prosecutor and Mao's widow herself spoke at the trial.

One of the opinion articles published in the newspaper "Zhenminzhibao" puts forward a demand for Jiang Qing to be given the "heaviest sentence."

NEW YORK, 25. (TASS). A New York Times correspondent, citing Chinese sources, reports from Beijing: Mao's widow, speaking in her own defense in court, denied the charges brought against her that she persecuted leading Chinese figures during the Cultural Revolution. She also said that this was done on the orders of Mao Zedong, and her actions were approved by both Mao and Zhou Enlai.

The New York Times writes that Jiang Qing's statement has put the current Chinese leadership in a difficult position.

President of Chile: "Our strength is in the unity of the people"

On the eve of the New Year, the editors of Trud turned to the President of Chile, Salvador Allende, with a request to tell him about the significance of the new year in the life of the Chilean people, about the prospects for the development of the republic.

I believe that the most significant event of 1970, not only in my life, but in the life of the entire country, was the coming to power of popular forces. There has never been such a case in the history of our state that four workers, including three communists, entered the government at the same time.

The main thing for us in the coming year will be to strengthen the unity of the people and the government and continue to implement the planned program. 1971 will perhaps be the most important year. We have won power. Now we have a more serious task - to defend it.

"How to Raise a Loafer"

This was the title of the article published in our newspaper on November 13. It told how for a long time they connived with the parasite and hooligan V. Dautiya, who was trying to get into college by dishonest means.

The Abkhaz regional committee of the Komsomol of Georgia reports that the article was discussed at a meeting of the bureau of the regional committee of the Komsomol. ...

The issue of CPSU member M.B. Dautia, who patronizes his son, a criminal, has been transferred to the Abkhaz regional committee of the Communist Party of Georgia. ...

The investigation into the issuance of fictitious documents with the seal and signature of forestry workers and the incorrect orders of the investigation in the Dautia case in 1958 will be carried out by the prosecutor's office of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Political work in logging

GORKY, 26. (Correspondent of Pravda). The bureau of the regional party committee discussed the issue of implementing the logging plan in the winter. The decision identified specific measures to improve political work among collective farmers aimed at logging.

This year the number of communists working in logging sites is increasing. A large group of lecturers is sent to the forest areas of the region. Seasonal loggers are better supplied with newspapers. The Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Regional Party Committee has developed approximate conversation topics for agitators working in the forest.

A city of complete literacy

NOVOROSSIYSK, December 27. (Correspondent of "Truda"). The other day, the city executive committee was presented with a state act on the completion of the eradication of illiteracy. Novorossiysk, as a city of complete literacy, has adorned the regional book of honor.

Just about two months ago, there were 4,849 illiterate people in the city. They are currently undergoing training. Gorono, together with trade union organizations, ensures that every illiterate person who arrives in the city is taken into account and trained.

Mandatory registration of tube radios

The Preparatory Commission of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR recognized the need to introduce mandatory registration of all tube radio receivers (detector receivers are exempt from registration). Foreigners living on the territory of the Soviet Union are required to register both tube and detector receivers.

For installation of lamp receivers at a distance of up to 100 km. from the border of the USSR (land or sea), prior permission from the People's Commissariat is required. Owners of radio installations will have to freely allow NKP and T controllers to perform technical inspections of installations, as well as to check documents for the right to install.

In search of a new morality

The lecture-discussion on the issue “Soviet power and prostitution”, held on December 25, was attended by an extraordinary gathering of the public with a huge and rare upsurge.

It was felt that the issue was ripe and required thoughtful resolution in connection with new forms of economy and the emerging new morality.

Presentations were made by Comrade T. Kollontai, Semashko, Vinokurov and Dr. Velman. At the request of the audience, the continuation of the lecture-discussion is postponed to the next week and should take place in a large room.

The meeting greeted the VIII Congress of Soviets, the work of which will serve to completely destroy the shadow of the past - prostitution.

The meeting dispersed with the singing of the International.

A new way of propaganda

To attract members, the Salvation Army resorted to a new method of propaganda. The other day in New York, a procession of 1000 completely drunk people, recruited by army soldiers from all the taverns, paraded down the street. The spectacle allegedly had such an effect that on the same day 1,300 people vowed not to drink alcohol. The English department of the Salvation Army plans to organize the same demonstration of drunks in London.

"In the depths of Russia"

Residents of the city of Kerch are the most unfortunate people, at the mercy and complete disposal of thieves and swindlers. They steal every day, every night. They steal as much as they want and in any way they want. They don’t just steal, they steal with feeling, sense, and planning. After many thefts, a lot of cigarette butts are found in burglarized apartments. Apparently Kerch thieves make themselves at home in Kerch apartments.

The inhabitants are groaning. Yes, the situation is very unenviable. We will advise the townsfolk of Kerch to shout louder - maybe someone “with ears” will hear them.

Selection by Sergei Sokurenko