St. Petersburg Authorities Discuss Phone Checks in Metro
Vice Governor Kirill Polyakov stated that increased security measures in the metro are due to difficult times. He explained why passengers are asked to turn on their smartphone screens.
Mar 1, 2026 0
On a live broadcast on January 29 on the TV channel «St. Petersburg,» Vice Governor Kirill Polyakov responded to a question about periodic requests to turn on smartphone screens when entering the metro. «The metro is a transport security facility,» the official replied. «We are currently applying increased security measures; times are difficult.» Polyakov emphasized that the security service is not interested in the content of the devices and does not require them to be unlocked, urging passengers to understand this.
Earlier, a correspondent from «Fontanka» encountered enhanced inspection measures. When entering the metro, he was asked not only to place his backpack on the conveyor belt but also to turn on the screens of his smartphone and laptop, and to demonstrate that the headphones were indeed headphones.
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