Russia to move Navy HQ to St. Petersburg by 2012

MOSCOW, March 29 (RIA Novosti)

The transfer of Russia's Navy Main Headquarters from Moscow to St. Petersburg will be completed in early 2012, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "The Navy Main Headquarters will be moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg by the end of 2011- the first quarter of 2012," Deputy Defense Minister Grigory Naginsky said. The official said the issue was under review by Russian Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky. In 2007, Boris Gryzlov, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, proposed transferring the Navy headquarters from Moscow to St. Petersburg as part of an ongoing military reform. Several top Russian military commanders were against the idea, saying it would be too costly and ineffective.