In St. Petersburg, a court levied administrative fines of 1,300 rubles on eight men for staging false arrests on Nevsky Prospekt at the end of October. The information came from the Unified Press Service of City Courts via a Telegram channel, reflecting the local judicial response to a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and mimic security forces in a high-traffic area.
The presiding judge emphasized that the defendants damaged public trust by imitating law enforcement actions. The court noted that the group forced passersby to the ground, struck some with sticks, and conducted operations using air rifles. Some members of the pretend security team wore uniforms that closely resembled those of riot police, creating a convincing but deceptive image of authority.
The defendants challenged the accusations, arguing that the insignia reading “OMON” on their clothing stood for a different, non-security meaning: “Mobile Mood Organization Detachment.” Nevertheless, the court found the claim unpersuasive and sentenced Roman M., Alexander Zh., Ivau Kh., Alexander D., Ilya B., Andrey E., Dmitry R to fines under the article for illegal wearing of a uniform. Egor P. also faced penalties, and the court ordered the confiscation of the counterfeit uniforms used during the stunt.
Witnesses described an alarming scene involving a mock riot squad leaving a vehicle and engaging with pedestrians, prompting at least one citizen to file a police report. This alarming sequence underscored the seriousness with which authorities viewed the incident, given its potential to incite fear and disrupt public order in a crowded urban setting.
Investigators later established that the participants had been hired to “arrest” businesspeople attending a meeting, with the operation organized by a company that specializes in orchestrating pranks involving people dressed in uniforms. The motive appeared to center on staged embarrassment for entertainment purposes rather than legitimate security activity.
Background notes indicate that these individuals had previously gained attention as prank participants associated with Vovan and Lexus in a separate incident involving fraud allegations connected to a prank aimed at the head of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This prior episode has contributed to ongoing scrutiny of prank dynamics, impersonation risks, and the limits of satire in public spaces, especially when it involves police-like imagery and actions.