Nizhny Novgorod residents were warned about fines for feeding pigeons.

      Residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region can be fined up to 3,000 rubles for feeding pigeons in the yard or near the entrance. This was reported by lawyer Olga Oshkina, a member of the Union of Lawyer Bloggers based at the Oleg Kutafin Moscow State Law University, to RIA Novosti. According to her, when the number of birds increases, it violates sanitary norms, raises the risk of infections, pollutes the yards, and attracts rats and mice to the houses. The human rights activist explained that feed left on the ground can be considered litter, which means unauthorized waste disposal. For this, citizens face a fine of up to 3,000 rubles, and if a person is caught for a repeated violation, the amount can increase to 5,000 rubles. She stated that pigeons also damage the paint on cars, the surfaces of benches, equipment in playgrounds, and other elements of the yard.

      Authorities in the Nizhny Novgorod region and municipalities may additionally impose their own bans and restrictions through landscaping rules. If benches, lawns, or the facade of a house are damaged due to feeding birds, liability may arise under the regional Code of Administrative Offenses.