In Saratov, a volunteer wearing a military uniform was denied entry to Harat’s bar. The report appeared on the telegraph channel Puree.
On the evening of November 26, a 43-year-old man named Oleg, who serves as a volunteer in the special military operations region, planned to meet a friend on leave at the bar. He was refused entry at the door, and the reason given by the staff was that the establishment does not admit people in military or sports uniform — a police officer on duty being the only exception.
The volunteer recounted that the bar employee’s action reflected an “unpatriotic attitude” and a lack of respect for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The bar’s staff, however, argued that the incident was unrelated to politics or patriotism and simply followed the venue’s entry policy.
The incident drew a reaction from local authorities. A State Duma deputy from the Saratov region, Nikolai Pankov, stated that he would raise the matter with the Rospotrebnadzor consumer protection agency and law enforcement officials to seek clarification and accountability.
Earlier in September, Vyacheslav Volodin, the spokesman for the State Duma, commented on a separate incident in Moscow in which a uniformed soldier was barred from entering a restaurant. Volodin urged that such businesses be shut down, arguing that military personnel deserve respect and protection from rude treatment. He emphasized that the state has a duty to safeguard those who serve and to ensure that public spaces treat service members appropriately, describing it as a basic obligation to support law enforcement and the armed forces.
These episodes highlight ongoing tensions around dress codes, accommodation policies, and the privileges accorded to uniformed personnel in public venues. While some establishments enforce specific rules about uniforms to manage safety, appearance, or branding, others argue that such policies should not impede access for service members who are on leave or traveling. In Saratov and Moscow alike, officials are weighing how to balance venue autonomy with the expectations of respect for those who serve in uniform, and how to address perceived slights without undermining civilian freedoms or commercial interests. A broader public conversation has emerged about how to handle similar situations in the future, with calls for clearer guidelines and measured responses from authorities and business owners alike. [citation attributed to local media reports and official statements]