Residents of Novosibirsk express disgust over deputy's action of demolishing a children's playground.
Sparking Controversy: The Playground Debacle in Novosibirsk's Leninsky District
A local stir is brewing in Novosibirsk, with residents alleging the dismantling of a children's playground in the Leninsky District. According to eyewitnesses, a group of men, accompanied by City Council deputy Alexei Mikhailov, were responsible for the playground's demise and its mysterious disappearance.
One resident, who captured the demolition on video, voiced their ire, "They're dismantling our children's playground. They're doing it on a weekend when the administrative offices are closed, and we can't get anyone on the phone. Mikhailov was even there. He answers all our questions by saying it's just how it's supposed to be."
According to the Telegram channel "We're on the Shlyuz," Alexei Mikhailov did not install the playground; his election rival, Alexander Koltovin, footed the bill using his own funds. The publication claims, "It's a disgrace! Now, we residents must be more vigilant to ensure this guy, who obviously isn't on our side, doesn't steal anything else from us on the Shlyuz!"
A video posted on the channel shows a vehicle bearing the inscription "Alexei Mikhailov. Still Working for You." However, Alexei Mikhailov's reception denies any involvement in the playground's dismantling and removal. "The playground was dismantled by a contractor under a contract with the district administration. Alexei Yuryevich was there merely to supervise - to check on the proceedings. The equipment wasn't loaded into his vehicle," the reception told Sibkray.ru. "For more information, including reasons, it's better to contact the administration."
The Leninsky District administration declined to comment on the matter, mentioning that only explanations are provided through written requests directed to the Novosibirsk mayor's office. Sibkray.ru plans to submit such a request shortly.
Alexei Mikhailov was elected to the Novosibirsk City Council from District No. 44 with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation's backing. However, he left the CPRF faction on February 14, 2022, following an uncommon decision by Council Chairman Dmitry Asanov, who accused Mikhailov of betraying the voters' trust during a conflict with residents.
Mikhailov argued that his departure from the CPRF was a result of his own initiative, not a decision by the faction. He later joined the "ER" faction. Mikhailov ran in the "ER" primaries for his own district ahead of the city council elections but withdrew shortly before the vote - the reasons were not disclosed.
In a notable turn of events, during an extraordinary session on November 13, 2024, the Novosibirsk City Council stripped two deputy "foreign agents" - Svetlana Kaverzina and Anton Kartavin - of their mandates. During the same session, curators of electoral districts No. 25 - Dmitry Chernov (District No. 26) and No. 46 - Alexei Mikhailov (District No. 44) were elected. Anton Burmistrov also ran for the latter position alongside Mikhailov, emphasizing the support of Akademgorodok residents and other voters. In the end, 34 deputies voted for Mikhailov's candidacy, and 7 voted for Burmistrov.*
*Recognized as "foreign agents" by order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia.
Sources: Internet Research
Some details were not available, so synonymous language has been employed to maintain a consistent tone throughout the text.
- rumors persist surrounding Alexei Mikhailov's involvement in the dismantling of a playground in Novosibirsk's Leninsky District, despite his reception denying any involvement.
- In the Leninsky District, Alexei Mikhailov, a former Communist Party and current "ER" faction member, was elected to the Novosibirsk City Council, a role he held when allegations of a playground dismantling arose.
- The controversial playground incident in Novosibirsk, involving Alexei Mikhailov, has become a topic in the general news and politics, with residents questioning the city council deputy's actions.
- A video posted on the Telegram channel "We're on the Shlyuz" shows a vehicle bearing Alexei Mikhailov's name, fueling rumors about his connection to the playground's dismantling, despite his denial of any involvement.
