Penza, 7 November 2014. PenzaNews. Several hundred people took part in the celebration of the 97th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, held in Penza on Friday, November 7. The event began on Fontannaya Square, where about an hour before the start the members and supporters of the Communist Party began to gather. Many of them came to Penza from the areas especially for the event.

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Brass band, performing songs of the Soviet years, was creating festive mood.

After 16.30, the marchers formed a single column and began to move up along Moskovskaya Street. Since it started getting dark in Penza, the marchers turned on their prepared flashlights that created even more festive atmosphere in the Communist ranks.

The rally on Sovetskaya Square was opened by Oleg Shalyapin, Penza City Duma deputy from the Communist Party. He congratulated the gathered on the holiday and noted that November 7 is a significant date in the history of the country.

In turn, Vladimir Simagin, Russian State Duma deputy from the Penza region, the Communist Party faction, said that the current authorities are struggling with the holiday, which is celebrated by communists.

“They invented another holiday — November 4. I do not know what it was in 1612 — by the way, historians still debate around this date. But I know well what happened 97 years ago. The significant event — the Great October Socialist Revolution, which is known throughout the world,” he stressed.

In his speech, Vladimir Simagin drew attention to the concerns of people in the region. In particular, he mentioned the reduction of commuter trains.

Then the participants of the rally were addressed by Dmitry Filyaev, first secretary of the city committee of the Communist Party of Penza, Georgy Kamnev, member of the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region, first secretary of the regional committee of the Communist Party, as well as the representatives of area branches of the party and public organizations.

Following the event, the participants adopted a resolution with a number of requirements to the City Duma. In particular, the Communists insist on termination of infill development and felling of parks and gardens; bringing order to the housing sector by eliminating “middlemen-parasites;” returning public transport to the city and organizing its work for the benefit of the citizens.

In addition, the Communist Party members and supporters demanded that governor Vasily Bochkarev and the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region stopped the reduction of commuter trains and electric trains; did not impose social norms of electricity consumption in the region; provided real support to the youth regarding employment and housing; passed the regional law “On children of war;” and stopped prosecuting Andrei Zuev, communist deputy.

Among the requirements of the Communists to the federal authorities are the return of direct governor elections “without filters;” fixing the real public sector wages at the average for the economy; termination of liquidation of budget places in universities and colleges; reduction of utility tariffs and prices for gasoline and other.