Security service explains why Putin didn’t wear seat belt while driving over Crimea Bridge

May 17 2018

Russia Beyond

Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told media that Putin has obtained a C category driving license 20 years ago that allows him to drive a truck

Reuters

Those watching the grand opening of the Crimea Bridge earlier this week might have gotten puzzled by the fact that President Putin didn’t wear a seat belt sitting behind the wheel of the truck. Russian traffic laws consider not wearing a seat belt while driving a violation with a personal fine of 1000 rubles ($16).

The Federal Protection Service of Russia (it handles matters of presidential security) said Putin was driving a KAMAZ truck on the bridge before the road was officially opened.

“Officially, the traffic was launched at 5.30 on May 16. While on May 15, the president took part in a festive event – the ceremony of the Crimea Bridge’s opening. The bridge at that moment was not a road per se, but a construction site. Traffic on such a site is not regulated by traffic rules,” explained an official from FPS told Gazeta.ru.

The Federal Protection Service said Putin was driving a truck before the road was officially opened

Ruptly

Previously, deputy Oleg Khomutinnikov sent an official request to the General Prosecutor of Russia asking to check if Putin violated any laws, local media reported.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told media that Putin has obtained a C category driving license 20 years ago that allows him to drive a truck.

On May 15, President Vladimir Putin opened the 19 km-long Crimea Bridge, which took two years to build.

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