Tourists Detained in St. Petersburg for Dancing by FSB Headquarters

Police in St. Petersburg apprehended a group of foreign tourists after they engaged in dancing and took photographs near the local headquarters of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), as reported by the outlet Fontanka on Tuesday.

The group included two American citizens, one Israeli national, and a resident of St. Petersburg, according to the report.

According to Fontanka, the tourists had been walking from the Great Choral Synagogue when they paused to dance close to the FSB building on Liteyny Prospekt. Officers reportedly labeled their behavior as «aggressive» after approaching them about taking pictures of the building.

The four individuals were arrested, charged with disturbing the peace, and taken into temporary custody, as stated in the report. It was unclear if the authorities intended to file formal charges.

There has been no official confirmation regarding the arrests.

The FSB’s St. Petersburg headquarters is situated near several notable tourist attractions, including the Neva River embankment, the Summer Garden, and Saint Michael’s Castle.