On April 21, the most scandalous trial following the December elections to the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg will probably be summed up... Thirteen years ago, after the elections of the first democratic Lensoviet, losing candidates were often the first to congratulate the winners. Because they were perceived not so much as competitors, but as like-minded people. But times have changed.

You won’t envy the residents of St. Petersburg whose children will be entering universities this summer. Competition for free budget places will be much tougher than last year. And all because 25 state and 12 non-state higher educational institutions in St. Petersburg will partially count the results of the unified state exams for nonresident applicants. St. Petersburg did not surrender to the mercy of the winner - the unified state exam marching across the country.

Do we have architecture in our new buildings or is it just a word? Although the global issue was included in the title of the conference held yesterday in the Hall of Investment Projects, its participants were of little concern. The chief architect of the city, Oleg Kharchenko, and representatives of the St. Petersburg Union of Architects, apparently announced to attract the press, did not appear at the round table.

Nature played a trick again: the ice cover on Ladoga is extremely thick. In addition, the spring turned out to be long and cold. Therefore, ice drift on the Neva, which usually ends by May 15, promises to be late. And this means one thing: in the midst of celebrating the anniversary of the northern capital, ice icebergs from Ladoga may float along the Neva. On the one hand, ice drift is a beautiful sight. On the other hand, the Neva water area is actively involved in the celebration program.

Minister of Internal Affairs Boris Gryzlov, who arrived in St. Petersburg yesterday for one day, managed to make some noise here. He held the next (third) meeting of security forces to ensure security during the 300th anniversary of the northern capital.