Translated material
Police disperse a night bike ride in St. Petersburg
The police of St. Petersburg on the evening of June 18 dispersed the participants of the annual bike ride "White Nights". It is reported by "Fontanka" with reference to the participants of the event.
The police said that the action was not agreed with the city authorities, but the organizers deny this. According to the head of the Velopiter club, Ilya Gurevich, the documents on the run were submitted "to all city departments", and approvals were received everywhere. At the same time, the organizers admit that they did not receive written permission from the traffic police.
According to Fontanka's sources in the administration of St. Petersburg, the event was canceled due to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
More than 1000 cyclists were going to take part in the run. According to the police, six protesters were detained for violating traffic rules, and one more for being drunk in a public place.
“We did write at some agreements that the event could be canceled because of the SPIEF,” Fontanka’s interlocutors in the legality committee added.
- The White Nights bike ride is held in St. Petersburg on Saturday closest to the longest white night. According to Radio Liberty, the White Nights bike rides have been held since 1965.