Hyde-Gorky and Hyde-Sokolniki • Public Post • RIMA — Russian Independent Media Archive

Hyde-Gorky and Hyde-Sokolniki

Photo: Reuters

The Moscow authorities have announced the creation of an analogue of London's Hyde Park: it will be possible to express political manifestos with impunity in two parks - Sokolniki and Gorky Cultural Park. PublicPost found out what the place for political discussions in the British capital actually looks like.

It is believed that in the center of London there is a place for free political debate - Hyde Park. In fact, the British gather in the so-called "Speaker's Corner". A conditional platform in the fresh air was opened in 1872 - a decree was issued allowing the expression of any thoughts on any occasion. Politicians, and not only local ones, took advantage of this opportunity. For example, Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx performed in Hyde Park.

However, the Speaker’s Corner doesn’t look like anything special: it’s just that people gather there who are not afraid that at the most interesting moment they will be dispersed by law enforcement officers with batons. Some speakers even climb onto a stool specially brought with them so that they can be seen and heard better. At this time, tourists and ordinary calm townspeople are walking around.

Hyde Park. Photo: Reuters

Hyde Park is an area of almost one and a half square kilometers. Until the 16th century, this place was in the possession of Westminster Abbey. In 1536, King Henry VIII announced the dissolution of the monasteries and announced that the land now belonged to the state and he was going to hunt there. King James I decided that it was worth allowing ordinary people into the park from time to time, and Charles I in 1637 completely opened the territory to everyone. The public took advantage of the opportunity - and by the end of the 17th century, Hyde Park was filled with masses of citizens of different origins.

Now in Hyde Park you can ride horses, play volleyball or football, ride a bike or roller skate, swim in an artificial lake called The Serpentine, and, after all, just take a walk. Concerts, parades, exhibitions and festivals are held there. Perhaps, in this context, it is true that Sokolniki Park, which is loved by pensioners and teenagers, and the “hipster” Gorky Park may be similar to London’s oldest Hyde Park.