'I Don't Care! I Park Wherever I Want!' Street War Gathers Pace in Russian Cities

Mr. Zuev, a driver for St. Petersburg city administration who became famous thanks to a video showing him swinging a wrench in front of the fighters against illegal parking, regrets his behavior. This information was released by Alexander Gashkov, director of motor enterprise Smolninskaya. According to Gashkov, a conversation with the driver took place, but he was not punished for his behavior. The official noted that the famous VIP-driver has been working in Smolny for 20 years and all this time he "had nothing but positive reviews."

Photo: 'I Don't Care! I Park Wherever I Want!' Street War Gathers Pace in Russian Cities

The official from Smolny believes that perpetrators of this conflict, above all, were "representatives of Nashi youth movement” who were placing giant stickers on cars. "Certainly, it was a provocation on the part of teenagers,” Alexander Gashkov told Komsomolskaya Pravda. “But the driver failed to restrain himself. He should not have shown his emotions in such a dramatic way." According to Gashkov, the driver is regretful about the incident, and claims that his self-restrained had failed him.

Russia Today: Sticky issue: Moscow youth protest against illegal parking

As previously reported, a week ago in St. Petersburg, activists of Nashi youth movement placed a sticker saying "I don’t care. I park wherever I want" on Nissan Maxima with A492AA license plate that belongs to the administration of St. Petersburg. The car was double parked against the rules. However, the VIP-driver pounced on young people with a wrench, and his attack was accompanied by foul language.

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The same day the activist of Nashi who placed the sticker on the car was detained by police. He was charged with disorderly conduct. The Code of Administrative Offences states such crime is punishable by a fine of five hundred to one thousand rubles ($18-30), or up to fifteen days in jail.

"Nashi", in turn, wrote a letter to the governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko, asking to scrutinize the conflict and hold the aggressive driver responsible.

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On June 1, the youth movement Nashi began a campaign to combat illegal parking. Movement activists are placing stickers on the cars of Muscovites stating "I don’t care. I park wherever I want." They shoot videos of their actions to place them on the Internet later. The movement explains their activity is necessary because of “reluctance of most drivers to abide by traffic regulations.”

Car owners do not support the fighters with illegal parking. The Federation of car owners of Russia said that placing stickers on the windshields was disorderly conduct and damage to property. Vyacheslav Lysakov, the leader of inter-regional public organization of motorists “Freedom of Choice” called the act “lynching” and accused Nashi activists of self-promotion.

Komsomolskaya Pravda