07 December 2009 The Moscow Times Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has offered to finance the upkeep of the legendary cruiser Aurora.

Prokhorov sent a letter to Navy head Vladimir Vysotsky and St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko offering to finance the upkeep of the Aurora, Russky Pioner reported Friday.

The Aurora is famous for firing the opening blast of the 1917 revolution and is now moored in the Neva River, in St. Petersburg. A scandal developed around the ship in June, however, when a party was thrown celebrating the anniversary of Russky Pioner, a publication owned by Prokhorov.

“I see a danger that the cruiser Aurora, which has recently become a place for holding events and celebrations and shooting films, could turn into an entertainment center,” Prokhorov wrote in the letter. He said his charity could better care for the ship than the Navy, which is currently responsible for it.

Source: The Moscow Times