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EDNOTE.  As most of you know, the St.Petersburg Nabokov Museum located
in the old family mansion  has operated as a private  institution  raising
its own funding. It has been a heroic endeavor supported by a handful of
 dedicated  staff and  patrons. Now, thanks to the combined efforts of  Museum
Director Tatyana Ponomareva and Dmitri Nabokov, the city government  has
agreed to give the Museum  official  standing.  The International Vladimir
Nabokov Society and NABOKV-L  congratulate  all concerned.  The Museum will,
of course, continue to need  support from other sources.
Below, Dmitri Nabokov has provided his own translation of the official letter
from S.B. Tarasov, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, Â informing the Museum
of  the decision.
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GOVERNMENT
OF ST PETERSBURG
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VICE-GOVERNOR
OF ST PETERSBURG
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To the
director of the non-state Institution "St Petersburg V.V. Nabokov Museum"
T.O. Ponomareva
Â
27.07.2004
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Dear Tatyana
Olegovna,
Â
Further
to your request to Governor of St Petersburg V.I. Matvienko with regard
to the future development of the non-state Institution "St Petersburg V.V.
Nabokov Museum", I inform you as follows:
Â
Without
the least doubt, the non-state Institution "St Petersburg V.V. Nabokov Museum"
(hereinafter the V.V. Nabokov Museum) is an inalienable part of the literary
life of St Petersburg and a vital part of the city's network of literary
museums. It is well known both in St Petersburg and abroad. Hence the V.V.
Nabokov Museum is of great and genuine value for our city.
Â
In the
interest of preserving the world's only V.V. Nabokov Museum and commemorative
collection, the Culture Commission of St Petersburg is assigned the task
of developing by 01.09.2004 a project for establishing, on the basis of
the non-state St Petersburg V.V. Nabokov Museum, a state institution to
be known as "The Literary and Memorial V.V. Nabokov Museum" (hereinafter
the State Institution "V.V. Nabokov Museum"). The Commission governing the municipal
property of St Petersburg is directed to resolve questions of property and
to implement the destination of the above-named premises for rent-free use
by the State Institution "V.V. Nabokov Museum", extending the validity of
that agreement to the moment at which liability for lease payments was instituted.
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Vice Governor
of St Petersburg S.B. Tarasov
Â
(signed
S.B. Tarasov)
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