Photo:
Oleg Karsaev / “Kommersant”
The leader of the bike club “Night wolves” Alexander Zaldostanov, known as the Surgeon, said that the organization will not change plans due to the fact that it did not receive a presidential grant to any of its claims. Scheduled events will still be held, he said on Tuesday, August 1, the radio station “Moscow Says”
“For us it is, firstly, means that there were more worthy. And secondly, their plans will not give up. Children without Christmas parties for children, we still do not leave,” said the Surgeon.
Zaldostanov said that “Night wolves” “twenty years have lived up to grants, I’ll live without them now.”
This year the Association had submitted in three bids. The project “Map of tourist history” and the festival of travellers “Sister” (cost 2.6 million rubles, and 3.6 million) not admitted to examination in connection with the compliance with the requirements. Application for the children’s Christmas performances (price of 9.5 million rubles) considered but not satisfied, said the radio.
The bike club has been arranging holidays since 2004. In 2015, the Deputy of the state Duma from the Communist party Valery Rashkin appealed to the Prosecutor General with a request to check the legality of the grant for this event. According to the politician, presentation, organized by the bikers, are politically motivated.
“Night wolves” officially existed since may 1989. In 1995, also was a registered public non-profit organization “Russian bikers”. The club actively cooperates with the Russian Orthodox Church and coordinates actions with the Church calendar. In addition, bikers are working together with Patriotic movements and engaged in military-Patriotic education of youth.
The office of President of the Association from the date of its Foundation is Zaldostanov (in accordance with the Charter of the club, the leader is not elected). It is also one of the leaders of the movement “Antimaydan” and actively supports militias self-proclaimed republics of Donbass.