A court in St. Petersburg handed down a suspended sentence and a substantial fine to a man who organized rooftop and courtyard tours in the city. The decision, communicated through the joint press service of the St. Petersburg courts, reflects how authorities are addressing unauthorized commercial guided activities in urban spaces. The report was shared via the official Telegram channel of the courts network. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]
The Smolninsky District Court of St. Petersburg publicly announced the verdict against Konstantin Boyko. He was found to have committed a crime under paragraph 2 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers illegal entrepreneurship. The court’s findings outline a systematic scheme that operated outside legal business channels and without the required licensing or oversight. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]
According to court materials, from February 19, 2022, to July 25, 2023, Boyko violated rules governing commercial activities in St. Petersburg. He allegedly organized paid tours that allowed participants access to rooftops and courtyards of buildings within the Central District. The records indicate that he tampered with entry controls by breaking locks on an unspecified number of entrance doors and attics and even removing keys to some front doors. He also crafted touring routes, established social media pages to promote the ventures, and employed staff to carry out and manage the trips. The total amount earned in this scheme was 22,281,470 rubles and 96 kopecks. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]
During the proceedings, Boyko admitted guilt and expressed repentance, with the case being heard in private as noted by the press service. The court ultimately imposed a two-year suspended sentence with a probationary period of 1.5 years and a fine of 200,000 rubles. The decision signals how courts are balancing punitive measures with the potential for rehabilitation in cases involving illegal commercial activities. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]
Earlier, another notable development in the city involved law enforcement actions related to rooftop activities. A Moscow court previously arrested 13 individuals described as roof workers who entered a high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, underscoring ongoing attention to illicit access and unauthorized occupation of urban structures. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]
Separately, reports from St. Petersburg described a separate incident in which a young man was seen on horseback atop a moving vehicle near the Hermitage General Staff building. Footage of the event circulated widely, highlighting public interest in audacious acts tied to iconic city landmarks. [Citation: St. Petersburg courts press service]