The naming of a new metro station in Russian city Saint Petersburg is causing a row between the city authorities and the country's foreign ministry. The plan is to name the metro station after Bucharest as 'Bukharestskaya,' according to the Russian media. However, First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov was not happy with the decision and wrote to the Saint Petersburg authorities, according to Russian news service Moscow News, which quotes his letter: “A NATO member state that is not very friendly with Russia is not a fitting inspiration for a metro station name.”

According to Moscow News, Denisov highlights Romania's agreement with the US on the missile defense shield, which has long been a sore point between Russia and the US. He also refers to Romania's position on former Soviet Union territory and support of Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia.

But the city authorities appear unmoved and have said there are no plans to rename the new station, due to open soon. The plan for the name goes back to the Communist era, when work on the new metro line was begun, but never completed. With Romania a Soviet ally at the time, the name of 'Bucharest' was chosen for one of the stations. The Saint Petersburg metro is among the deepest in the world (see picture) with a station at over 100 meters underground.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

photo source: sxc.hu