You're reading: Heavy metal, Yanukovych lure Russian bigwigs to Sevastopol

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov will reportedly meet with motorcyclists, individually or in unison, during their visits to Crimea July 23-25.

All three Russian officials are also expected to meet President Viktor Yanukovych, who is vacationing on the penninsula.

The Sevastopol Bike Show is celebrating its 14th anniversary from July 23-25. The popular event, which comes just before celebration of Russian Navy Day, has been used as photo opportunity by Russian and Ukrainian officials in recent years. Both Putin and Kirill attended in 2009.

News portal e-krym’s Sevastopol reporter on July 22 quoted Yanuovych’s representative in Crimea, Volodymyr Kazaryn, as saying Putin plans to attend the bike rally again this year.

Related links: Sevastopol Bike Show scheduleBike Show photogallery (2009)e-krym Sevastopol report