- Title: Russian chefs in naked lockdown protest after virus strips them of income
- Date: 9th June 2020
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (RECENT - MAY 15, 2020) (REUTERS) FILE FOOTAGE OF MELODY GARDOT WATCHING PERFORMER ITAI KRISS PLAYING FLUTE ON HER PHONE, AS SHE LOOKS FOR MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD TO PLAY ALONG DIGITALLY ON HER NEW ALBUM DURING LOCKDOWN PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 4, 2020) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN JAZZ SINGER, MELODY GARDOT, ON HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT
- Embargoed: 23rd June 2020 12:23
- Keywords: Russia coronavirus restrictions flashmob lockdown naked chefs naked restaurants quarantine
- Location: KAZAN AND KRASNODAR, RUSSIA / INTERNET
- City: KAZAN AND KRASNODAR, RUSSIA / INTERNET
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVA00DCHNF9DL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian restaurant owners stripped of their income by the coronavirus lockdown are campaigning for their businesses to be allowed to reopen by posting pictures of themselves naked on social media.
Hundreds of bar, restaurant and cafe employees have posted photographs of themselves naked with carefully positioned plates, cups, saucepans, bottles, bar stools and napkin holders.
Their demand is for authorities to allow them to start serving clients as the country gradually eases measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
"We are naked because we are left with nothing," said Arthur Galaychyuk, owner of the Relab Family bar chain in the city of Kazan, whose 20 employees took part in the campaign.
Restaurants in Kazan will be allowed to open their summer terraces on June 11 after more than two months of lockdown.
President Vladimir Putin ordered strict lockdown measures at the end of March shutting all businesses except food stores and pharmacies. The country's regions were allowed to adjust the measures depending on the situation on the ground.
Moscow is in the process of lifting the lockdown and many businesses, including shopping malls, book stores and beauty salons have reopened.
The Russian capital plans to allow cafes and restaurants to open their outside terraces later in June before reopening fully from June 23. Indoor restaurants and bars remain closed in other parts of Russia.
(Production: Anastasia Adasheva, Maria Vasilyeva) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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