Florida City Suspends 28-Year Relationship With a Russian City

Sarasota has officially put their 28-year sister city relationship with the Russian city of Vladimir on hold.

During a meeting on Monday, St. Petersburg voted to 'indefinitely' suspend the relationship with the Russian city of Vladimir.

City Commissioner Hagen Brody originally sent a letter to the Sister City Association asking to end the partnership. The letter was added to Monday night's commission meeting. In the letter, Brody noted that the decision was fueled by Russia's "unprovoked military invasion" of Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the city of St.Peterburg WILL remain sister cities with St. Petersburg in Russia while still supporting Ukraine. St. Petersburg, Russia, is one of three of St. Petersburg, Florida's sister cities, along with Takamatsu, Japan, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and Figueres, Spain.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, legend has it that a coin toss led to the naming of the Sunshine City after St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 2003, St. Pete's then-mayor, Rick Baker, traveled across the globe to St. Petersburg, Russia, to meet with their governor, Vladimir Yakovlev. The two committed "to an exchange of information in spheres both economic and cultural, even citing the 'humanitarian values' the two cities hope to share," according to Tampa Bay Times archives.

As of Sunday, per the request of Mayor Ken Welch, the branding poles at St. Pete Pier have been lit up in yellow and blue as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.