Kamchatka doesn’t want to get closer to Moscow in time

Moscow, Dec 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti) More than 3,000 people attended a protest rally in Russias Far East city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Saturday over plans to further cut the time difference between the region and Moscow.

The Kamchatka region did not switch over to summer time earlier this year along with the rest of Russia. As a result, the time difference with Moscow was cut to eight from nine hours. It is expected that the difference will be shortened by one more hour.

It is being carried out as part of plans for President Dmitry Medvedev’s reform of the country’s time zones.

Despite the bad weather, protestors flocked to the citys central square, chanting slogans such as Give us our time back!”

Opponents of the reforms say the changes have an adverse effect on the health of local residents.

–IANS/RIA Novosti