St. Petersburg Cancels Last COVID Restrictions

On 1 October, Saint Petersburg will officially cancel all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the 2020 decree that banned public gatherings over 300 people and restricted protests. The move follows a directive from the city's chief sanitary doctor, though some sources note that authorities previously used these measures to suppress civil activism.

Consensus

The cancellation of COVID-19 restrictions in Saint Petersburg will take effect on 1 October.
The decision is based on a directive from the chief state sanitary doctor for Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast.
The main legal basis for the restrictions was the 2020 government decree № 121 on measures against the spread of COVID-19.
The decree originally banned public events with more than 300 participants and restricted protests and gatherings.
The World Health Organization declared the end of the pandemic on 5 May 2023.
Federal-level COVID-19 restrictions in Russia were lifted on 1 July 2022.
The cancellation of the decree will remove the requirement for prior approval of mass events and the mask-wearing recommendation for people over 60.

Points of divergence

The decree also banned rallies, pickets, and demonstrations, and authorities used it to block protests, such as a planned anti-Gazprom rally and the 'Nekrokomikkon' festival. — meduza
Authorities have used the 'violation of COVID rules' as a pretext to suppress civil activity, including detaining participants of solitary pickets and canceling cultural events. — tg_radiosvoboda
The authorities previously used the decree to deny permits for protests, such as a rally against election fraud, and the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2025 that parts of these restrictions were unlawful. — tg_sotavisionmedia
Industry representatives believe the cancellation will bring no significant change, calling the previous approval process 'formal' and stating it was only 'one less paper.' — fontanka
A new bureaucratic mechanism may replace the current one, according to a promoter company head. — fontanka
The original decree was stricter, banning events with over 1,000 people and recommending against international travel. — vm
Gubernatorial approval of the restrictions was extended until the end of 2026, pending a formal directive from the sanitary service. — vm

Coverage (20 sources)

Less by one piece of paper. How the cancellation of COVID restrictions in St. Petersburg will affect mass events — Фонтанка
From October 1, COVID restrictions will cease to operate in St. Petersburg. Will there be changes? — Фонтанка
In St. Petersburg, COVID restrictions are being cancelled. And in Moscow, because of them, a protest against election fraud was banned — Meduza
Coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in Saint Petersburg from October 1 — РИАМО
Coronavirus restrictions cancelled in St. Petersburg 3.5 years after pandemic ended — The Moscow Times
In St. Petersburg, coronavirus restrictions will be cancelled from October 1 — Радио Свобода
Saint Petersburg will fully cancel coronavirus restrictions from October 1 — Вечерняя Москва
From October 1, St. Petersburg authorities will cancel coronavirus restrictions — Ведомости
Covid restrictions in St. Petersburg will be cancelled, which authorities cited when banning rallies — SOTAvision
In St. Petersburg, coronavirus restrictions will be cancelled on October 1 — ASTRA
Coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in St. Petersburg on October 1. The decree, which TASS reviewed, was signed by the governor... — ТАСС (Telegram)
In St. Petersburg, coronavirus restrictions are being lifted — DW Главное
Coronavirus restrictions to be lifted in St. Petersburg from October 1, administration of the governor reported. — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Government of St. Petersburg signed decree on cancellation of coronavirus restrictions. They will stop taking effect on October 1... — Varlamov News
St. Petersburg will cancel coronavirus restrictions starting in October — Интерфакс
In St. Petersburg, they decided to cancel COVID restrictions. Under their pretext, they did not allow holding rallies in the city — ЭХО / Новости
In St. Petersburg, coronavirus restrictions are fully cancelled — Вести
In Saint Petersburg, coronavirus restrictions will be cancelled from October 1 — Коммерсантъ
Coronavirus restrictions in St. Petersburg will be lifted, which prevented holding rallies in the city. They have been in effect for six... — Дождь (Telegram)
Covid restrictions will be lifted in St. Petersburg from October 1 — Бумага

St. Petersburg Cancels Last COVID Restrictions

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (20 sources)

Key entities

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