Authorities turn off street-lights in Salihorsk and think it resembles Las Vegas

According to the order of the city authorities, streets of Mahileu, Brest, Babruisk and Salihorsk are plunged into darkness. Minsk is next.
The country is starting to save money on city illumination. Salihorsk streets are enshrouded in darkness from 1 to 5 a.m. However, the head of the ideology department of Salihorsk Executive Committee Larysa Zhukava thinks the city is illuminated enough:

"We have  received the order to save electricity. Illumination in all central streets is turned off from 1 to 5 a.m. However, there are lamps near every entrance and in yards. Come to our town at night and look how it is illuminated. You will see all shops and entertainment places – it is like Las Vegas”.

Our reporter Yuras Vitaliyeu does not recommend going out in Mahileu after midnight without a pocket flashlight:

"Illumination in the city is turned off at 12 a.m. Only the main streets and buildings are illuminated: the town hall and the executive committee. It is done according to the order of the city executive committee”.

However, Babruisk inhabitants have already stopped going out alone after sunset. Let us remind you that a pack of homeless dogs attacked a 20-year-old girl in Babruisk at the end of last year. Doctors had to amputate her arm in hospital. Out reporter Ales Hnalko describes the current situation in the city:

"Inhabitants of the blacked out districts like Farshtat, Dzednava, Yalavoki, Fandok and many others complain about the absence of normal illumination of their dangerous streets.

The main street of the city – Minsk Street – gets enshrouded in darkness at 12.30 a.m. every night. Many Babruiskers have to group in order to walk along the streets in dangerous districts. It protects them against aggressive dogs and other Babruiskers who find themselves better adapted to darkness”.

Brest Executive Committee started saving at the begging of last autumn, informs Yullyan Navumik. “Brestcitylight” told him that part of the city illumination was turned off from 12 to 5 a.m. every night according to the decision of the city executive committee starting from September 30, 2008.

Hrodna saves money in its own way. Our reporter Alina Kashkevich says:

"They are going to install automatic switches reacting to movement in lobbies. This plan has already been fulfilled in Vaukavysk and Navahrudak”.

“Minskcitylight” enterprise has informed ERB that Minsk will soon face night blackouts too.

It is not clear whether such policy will bring any results or not. However, one can be sure that citizens are not going to welcome it.