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In St. Petersburg, a probe launched into rendering of services that do not meet safety requirements, in the area of short-term rent of electric scooters

The St. Petersburg Investigative Department of the Investigative Commitee of Russia launched a probe into committing of offence under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code of Russia (rendering of services which do not meet safety standards).

According to investigation, on 13-14 May, 2021 some unidentified persons from direction of a commercial structure rendering services of short-term rent of electric scooters, traffic rules for which are not provided for at the legislative level, being obliged to comply with safety requirements on all stages of providing the services, out of mercenary motives, neglecting safety of other traffic participants, rented electric scooters to two young men of 20 and 21 years of age. Later, on May 14, 2021 one of them, moving at a significant speed, collided with a local resident born in 1980 near a house on Nevsky Prospect. After that the both young men inflicted the man numerous hits and kicks out of hooliganism. The victim was hospitalised and provided with required medical assistance. It must be noted that the commercial structure failed to take measures to ensure safety of pedestrians not provided for by terms of use. At present, investigation is conducting a complex of investigative activities to established all the circumstances of the tragedy.

The Investigative Committee of Russia notes that number of injuries resulting from aggressive riding of electric scooters has recently increased. One of the problems is lack of unified rules among companies rendering services of such rent. Thus, the Novosibirsk Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is carrying out a pre-investigative assessment upon a mass media report about uncontrolled mass rent of electric scooters to citizens, including minors, colliding with pedestrians while driving. The assessment includes verification of information about injuring of a child in one of the city parks. At present the persons providing electric scooters for rent have been identified. The pre-investigative probe will result in a procedural decision.