The Statutory Court of St. Petersburg recognized that the governor is obliged to sign laws adopted by the city parliament, even if there were any procedural violations. So now the governor is obliged to sign the law “On social payments to citizens receiving pensions in St. Petersburg”, according to which, from January 1, non-working pensioners must be paid monthly up to the subsistence level if the pension they receive is less than this amount.

The New Year is flying towards us in a race with Father Frost, Santa Claus, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Yakovlev, Finns, Christmas trees, gifts and preparations. The New Year's boom spreads through the courtyards of St. Petersburg, thundering and throwing green and red rockets into the black sky. It's already on its way, that notorious 2003... St. Petersburg New Year is the very best New Year in the country.

Call to a provincial actor: - Good afternoon, they’re bothering you from Hollywood, an acting assistant for Spielberg’s film crew. We have a good offer for you - a role, a thousand dollars per day of filming, a five-star hotel, a personal car, a secretary, an Oscar... - When is the shooting? - December-January. - Oh, no, I can’t, I have a Christmas tree! It just so happened that there are two Santa Clauses in my family. This brings an element of unpredictability to family New Year's holidays.

Deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the third convocation received their mandates - yesterday in the rotunda of the Mariinsky Palace they were solemnly presented with certificates of people's representatives. This city parliament will work until April 2007 - then the next elections will take place, which, by the way, will now be held using party lists.