In the suburbs, police detained a member of a volunteer group that opposed so‑called “obochniki,” people who were lurking near traffic jams on the roadside. On the M2 Crimea highway, the initiative group allegedly caused a collision with a car driven by a 39‑year‑old man, resulting in bodily injuries, according to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region.
According to available information, since 2021 those involved in roadside activity used cars to set traps for drivers. After attracting attention to vehicles parked on the roadside, they attempted to block them and triggered a traffic accident.
The 27‑year‑old, currently living in Chekhov, was detained as the first person connected to the criminal case. The Ministry of Internal Affairs states that the group initiated incidents with hooligan motives, provoking conflicts and fights.
The Chekhov city investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia opened a criminal case under article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Hooliganism”). An investigation is underway to identify and locate accomplices, and similar incidents have been detected — participants in the movement filmed their clashes with the “obochniki” and posted videos on YouTube. [Source attribution: Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region]
Roadside teachers
Until recently, the Telegram channel of so‑called “follower hunters” remained open, where promotions were discussed and groups gathered for future events.
Activists from the Respectful Movement, who also take part in roadside raids, stated on social networks that the detainee in Chekhov is Dmitry Cherepanov. His VKontakte profile describes him as providing vehicle service resources.
Back in 2021 Dmitry Cherepanov, driving a blue VAZ‑2104, became a topic in media reports about the roadside fighters.
People who call themselves “road cleaners” or “barrel counters” operate in several groups with cameras and radios. They cross the roadside but keep speeds low to prevent others from passing and sometimes try to “punish” drivers in motion by jamming vehicles. Accidents sparked disputes and fights, which are filmed and shared on social networks.
Activists post video descriptions with contact details to solicit financial support for their activities.
Driver Dmitry, who joined the roadside campaigns, told media that arrest of a Chekhov activist would not deter like‑minded people from continuing the work on the roads. He expressed distrust toward the traffic police, saying that officers often fail to address violations.
“The violator attacked first and hit the man twice. There are no organizational groups. The men raid the roadside. We fight, and do so within the law. The police show little interest in stopping this, and they pass by on the roadside. Perhaps they’re envious that we are taking action.”
الشبكة of like‑minded people
Across Russia, many popular bloggers claim to educate drivers about violations by provoking confrontations. Activist Dmitry runs a YouTube channel titled “Defender of the Roadside” where he shares clips featuring traffic violators. Participants in these raids have earned the nickname “beddrills.”
“I am a long‑distance observer who cannot stand pedestrians on the sidewalk and inattentive drivers,” he says in the channel’s description.
In one video, raid participants blocked the roadside, sparking a clash. Pepper spray was used on one violator, and the episode is recounted by a raid participant in the video title.
“The raid was fierce. We did two laps. The first was relatively quiet, the second turned chaotic. They blocked the roadside, and a beedrilla attacked our activist with his fists. When he saw us, the driver jumped into his car. The confrontation with the participants was rough,” the raid participant explains in the video’s narration.
The Right to Violence
Serhiy Radko, a lawyer representing the “Freedom of Choice” auto movement, notes that authorities have made clear they do not intend to grant private groups the power to enforce road rules.
“People in these groups have long pushed for a harsh response from authorities,” Radko says.
He recalls the liquidation of the Stopham movement as a legal entity, which did not deter activists from continuing their activities, eventually leading to the government’s decisive actions earlier this year against participants in StopHam. He adds that those who claim to defend the truth often break laws themselves while trying to stop others’ violations, and penalties for their own violations can be more severe than the violations they aim to stop.
Radko argues such provocations undermine public confidence in lawful ways to maintain order, since many actions devolve into brawls or fighting. Citizens who dislike others’ behavior should not replace the authorities.
Piotr Shkumatov, coordinator of the Blue Buckets movement, agrees. He points to widely known Stopham cases where people were beaten for improper parking. He maintains a cautious stance toward such carts, preferring to stay in his lane and let cameras and future enforcement address roadside violations. He believes the problem will gradually fade as monitoring improves. [Source attribution: Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Moscow Region]