On 7 November 2007 the State Hermitage Museum Press Service released an information communique:

In connection with the numerous questions concerning the position of the State Hermitage Museum in relation to the skating rink around the Alexander Column on Palace Square
the State Hermitage Museum would like to announce that:

The State Hermitage Museum has already explained its position concerning the skating rink around the Alexander Column and this opinion is well known. However, during pre-election campaigning the museum does not consider it to be appropriate to voice its opinion about the advertising campaigns in the city.

Furthermore, the State Hermitage Museum has approached the representative of the President of the Russian Federation, the Governor and Vice Governor of St. Petersburg in written form.

In accordance with the Regulations for Palace Square, current legislation and the regulations for the civilized organization of commercial activity, the State Hermitage Museum insists on the provision of insurance guarantees for ecological, fire and daily safety, on third party insurance and on the observation of museum privileges for the use of its buildings for commercial purposes. Similar guarantees and insurance have already been provided on numerous occasions on the State Hermitage Museum's initiative for other activities on Palace Square.