The Moscow Times has reported that Vladimir Putin attended a biker show organized by the Night Wolves motorcycle club in annexed Crimea on Saturday as protests continued in Moscow. Russian state television showed Putin at the handlebars of a Ural motorcycle, with two leaders of Crimea’s Russian-backed government in aboard.
Allegedly at least two people have filed complaints with the authorities on the basis that Putin had violated Russian law by not wearing a helmet.
On Monday a Russian lawyer requested the Sevastopol branch of Russia’s traffic police fine Putin $15 over the infraction. Although it’s not a massive amount, it’s probably more about principle.
Regional legislator Oleg Khomutinnikov sent a similar complaint to Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office later that day.
“Putin is violating [the law] again. I think it’s becoming a bad tradition,” Khomutinnikov wrote on Facebook. “So what, the violations are minor. But does that make them non-violations?”
Putin stirred a similar controversy on the peninsula last year when he was filmed driving a truck at the opening of the Crimean Bridge without a seat belt on. With his Federal Guard Service explaining that the bridge was not yet officially opened when he crossed it.
Infractions aside, Putin is well known for his thrill-seeking ways, and in the interests of balanced reporting here’s a video of Putin driving a Renault F1 car with a helmet and seat belt on...
Join the conversation!