Yekaterinburg night parking rates soar tenfold

In Yekaterinburg, the Academic shopping center has set an extremely high fee for using its parking lot at night. From midnight to 8 a.m., the cost per hour is now 10,000 rubles (approximately $100 at current rates), and 80,000 rubles (approximately $800 at current rates) for the entire night.

According to the mall«s administration, the measure was introduced to ensure free spaces for visitors to the cinema and restaurants. Customers who present a receipt can park under the previous conditions.

The increased rates apply only during severe frosts, when the air temperature drops below -15°C (5°F). At higher temperatures, the previous tariff of 1,000 rubles (approximately $10 at current rates) per night remains in effect.

Residents of the Academic district have already expressed outrage at the sharp increase. «We are looking for where to park the car in the frost, willing to pay 1,000-2,000 rubles (approximately $10-$20 at current rates) per night, but the Academic shopping center has its own vision of how to help citizens,» commented one of the local residents.

This is not the first time the shopping center has sharply increased parking costs for car owners from neighboring houses.