Today St. Petersburg hosted the grand opening of the MIA annual charity event “Mercy of White Nights”. It is dedicated to the memory of personnel of internal affairs bodies and internal troops who died in the line of service and military duty.

To participate in the campaign, which runs until May 16th, there arrived about 300 representatives of law-enforcement bodies from 60 regions of the country.

The opening ceremony was held at the Cultural Center of the MIA General Administration for Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Into the assembly hall there were solemnly brought the Banner of the St. Petersburg General Administration and the flag of the campaign.

The participants and guests, including veterans of the Great Patriotic War and veterans of internal affairs bodies, were welcomed by Deputy Chief of of the MIA General Administration Major-General of Internal Service Nikolai Rogovoy: “The most important thing is that you are supporting this action, that it is in your hearts and allows you to remember the comrades, friends and loved ones. It is good that it is being held in these days of May, shortly after the celebration of the 71st anniversary of the Victory”. Nikolai Rogovoy wished the participants creative achievements and luck.

One of the major events of the campaign “Mercy of the White Nights” is the contest-festival of bards, in which there will take part police officers and their families. Contestants will be evaluated in the following main categories: “Bards” (Author's song), “Singer” (solo performance), “Group” (group). In addition, the jury will traditionally provide additional special prizes to participants.

The culmination of the campaign will be a gala concert of Russian pop singers and laureates of the Campaign, which will be held on May 15 in the Big Concert Hall “Oktyabrsky”. As part of the gala concert there will be held a solemn handing of the Grand Prix and awards to the winners.