Mayoral conversations

Top 25 most memorable quotes from the heads of Russian cities.

Russian mayors rarely come to the attention of the federal media, although this is precisely the class of officials who are closest to the average person. City leaders are less prone to refined, carefully weighed protocol phrases and are often remembered for unexpected and exciting figures of speech.

Their sayings are not necessarily funny or stupid. On the contrary, in many quotes one can see how the simmering feeling of resentment for the entrusted city breaks out in the form of pure emotion. And even though the mayors’ phrases are not always well formulated and understandable, they are almost certainly remembered and retold by the townspeople.

We have collected a subjective top 25 of the most amazing and memorable quotes that Russian mayors have pleased us with over the past few years.

25th place. You'll get there yourself

Answering a question from journalists about his attitude to the statements of the Chairman of the City Duma Vladimir Timofeev in January 2015, the head of the administration of Veliky Novgorod Yuri Bobryshev reproached him for lack of independence.

I went to the polls many times, and unlike Timofeev, I never rode on a trailer.

Yuri Bobryshev, Mayor of Veliky Novgorod

24th place. Like you-know-what

The mayor of Perm stunned his subordinates two weeks before the New Year, 2015, urging them not to be distracted by the holidays, but to work hard on landscaping issues - removing snow, clearing intersections and bus stops.

I draw attention to the central streets, they should shine, as... everyone understands what and who has what.

Dmitry Samoilov, Mayor of Perm

What the head of the city meant remained unknown.

23rd place. Youth is our old age

At the “Islands” youth forum in 2013, then-mayor of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Andrei Lobkin tried to ironically describe the future role of youth.

We are obliged to help you realize your ideas. Because you are our old age, our pension.

Andrey Lobkin, ex-mayor of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

22nd place. Alternative Geometry

Speaking in 2010 about the prospects of a “two-headed” city management system, when the mayor and city manager are elected, Alexander Golkov vaguely
expressed his expectations from her.

It is necessary to create a commission, which will include representatives of the people's khural and deputies of the city council. Thus, the vertical of power that has been talked about for so long is closing.

The participation of executive bodies of government entities begins to be present not as a fiction, but in reality. This is a positive thing.

Alexander Golkov, mayor of Ulan-Ude

21st place. There’s no time for round dances these days

In 2014, the Kaliningrad mayor's office officially refused to organize a festive performance on New Year's Eve on Victory Square. The head of the city called on the townspeople to celebrate the New Year with their families, speaking negatively about the prospects for the public festivities.

As before on the 31st, when everyone gathered around the Christmas tree, we will not do this, we will not allow it. There is no point in walking there at night, nothing to do.

Alexander Yaroshuk, mayor of Kaliningrad

Yaroshuk has repeatedly attracted media attention with controversial quotes. For example, in 2016 he was quoted in the “Saltykov-Shchedrin Show” on the NTV channel with words about the difficult adult life of excellent students.

20th place. Nothing is clear

While reprimanding his subordinates for the overly complex “official language” used in official correspondence, the Ufa city manager unexpectedly admitted that he himself had difficulties with such documents.

Although the grammar has been improved, the answers are still stylistically illiterate. There are two sentences on one sheet of paper, is this normal? The person will not understand what is written there. Even I don't understand anything.

Irek Yalalov, head of the Ufa administration

19th place. Difficult situation

The head of the small town of Cheremkhovo in the Irkutsk region, speaking on the Tribune talk show, spoke about the difficulties of working in a difficult political environment.

The question arises: is it worth working, and who is going to work if we are sobbing politically?

Vadim Semyonov, mayor of Cheremkhovo

18th place. Cover it up at least

Viktor Kaurov, who was the head of the Kovrov administration in the Vladimir region until 2014, during a traditional communal planning meeting, praised the well-coordinated work of municipal services in removing snow in the spring, and, concluding the meeting, unexpectedly made a lyrical digression.

Despite the need to get rid of snow, it’s a bit of a pity to do this - now the city looks perfectly clean. Covered with snow, it is much more beautiful than littered with garbage.

Viktor Kaurov, ex-head of the Kovrov administration

17th place. Before and after

Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov reported on his Instagram that he gave an interview to journalists filming a documentary about changes at the resort after the 2014 Olympics. According to the head of the city, since Sochi was chosen as the venue for the Winter Games, it has changed beyond recognition.

From a provincial and gray city, essentially without sewerage and sustainable energy supply, with shawl towns in the city center, Sochi has turned into an excellent and modern resort.

Before the Olympics it was a Cossack, and after it was just space.

Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi

Pakhomov is also well known for his statement that there are no gays in Sochi. Representatives of the LGBT community did not fail to remind the mayor that they undoubtedly exist in the city.

16th place. Informal approach

Mikhail Matafonov worked as the head of the administration of Revda (Sverdlovsk region) until the fall of 2016. One of the most resonant projects that he implemented in his post concerned environmental protection. At his instigation, two new officials appeared in the structure of the city administration, who were immediately dubbed “city commandants.”

Later Matafonov commented on what qualities, in his opinion, candidates for these places should have.

These should not be formal people, they should be people who are a little sick about this topic in the good sense of the word.

Mikhail Matafonov, head of the Revda administration

15th place. Good morning country

The head of Makhachkala, Musa Musaev, held a press conference “without ties” in October 2016, during which he warned journalists that he “was not born in a library or conservatory” and therefore can say anything. He devoted most of his speech to giving journalists “the right information message.”

Journalists sit and wait for someone to die at the entrance to the administration. Or there will be a pipe somewhere so that you can come and show it. Lay out a lot of crap and greet: “Good morning, capital!”

Musa Musaev, head of Makhachkala

Comparing the number of city administration employees with the city population, Musaev noted that “there is no way to say hello to everyone, let alone pick up your trash or provide electricity, water, and gas.”

14th place. No problem

At the next meeting of the advisory council on the affairs of national-cultural autonomies and communities, the mayor of Severodvinsk listened to speeches by the representative of the Azerbaijani diaspora, Eyvaz Muradov, and the head of the Jewish community, Mikhail Simkin, in which they addressed problems, including the repair of roads and storm sewers.

Having answered the questions asked, Gmyrin summed up the meeting, noting the main thing.

If we are discussing urban management, it means that we have no problems with interethnic communication.

Mikhail Gmyrin, mayor of Severodvinsk

13th place. Pushkarev. Igor Pushkarev

The former head of the Vladivostok administration, Igor Pushkarev, was detained by law enforcement agencies on June 2, 2016 and taken to Moscow. At the meeting of the Basmanny Court, which extended the official’s arrest until May 30, 2017, the mayor actively spoke , ridiculing the prosecution.

The Bond investigator has seen enough and says: “He can fly away...” It’s funny that I can sit down and fly away. Then it is necessary to cancel all flights from the country - both air and sea, in general everything. Close everything. And then Pushkarev, perhaps, will not fly away.

Igor Pushkarev, ex-head of the Vladivostok administration

12th place. What does he allow himself?

Moscow blogger Ilya Varlamov entered into a correspondence discussion with the mayor of Krasnoyarsk Edkham Akbulatov. Varlamov, in particular, called his days in the city like a “bad dream.” In response, the city manager doubted that the blogger could give an adequate assessment of the city economy.

I don't know what a blogger can appreciate. What did he do in life? Therefore, I don’t take the statements of some visiting tourer particularly to heart.

Edkham Akbulatov, Mayor of Krasnoyarsk

11th place. Three states of aggregation

The mayor of Chelyabinsk in 2005-2010 and the governor of the Chelyabinsk region in 2010-2014, Mikhail Yurevich, is well known to residents of the Southern Urals, although his activities are assessed ambiguously. It was during his tenure as the head of the region that the famous “Chelyabinsk meteorite” fell in February 2013, which became the reason for the official’s most memorable phrase.

Perhaps the meteorite was gaseous: hard ice, gas ice, gas ice.

Mikhail Yurevich, ex-mayor of Chelyabinsk

10th place. Revolutionary career

Sentenced to 12.5 years in a maximum security colony, Evgeny Urlashov left the post of mayor of Yaroslavl on January 20, 2017. His last word at the court hearing became one of the main topics in the media. The disgraced official spoke at length and at great length about the kind of persecution they carried out on him, and made ambiguous hints.

They asked me for 15 years, like Fidel Castro. But he returned and led Cuba.

Evgeny Urlashov, ex-mayor of Yaroslavl

9th place. We'll definitely love it. But then

Sergei Sobyanin is perhaps the most quoted mayor in Russia. He repeatedly made expressive statements, which were instantly carried by the press, so that the capital’s mayor is known, without a doubt, to the whole country.

In 2013, answering a question about the reconstruction of the Paveletsky Station Square, the mayor complained that he himself was terribly tired of this construction.

I have a great desire to bury everything, pave it all and forget it like a bad dream, but, unfortunately, a lot of money has already been invested there.

Sergei Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow

8th place. This will pass

Mayor of Petrozavodsk Irina Miroshnik, answering questions about the work of public utilities in the spring, told when puddles will disappear from the streets of the Karelian capital.

Water is formed during the melting of snow, which is quite active now. Sooner or later this will stop.

Irina Miroshnik, head of Petrozavodsk

7th place. Beware, modern!

The head of Surgut, Vadim Shuvalov, actively maintains his accounts on social networks, including Twitter. In January 2017, he published a photograph of the station, calling it one of the most unusual in Russia. When one of the subscribers replied to the mayor that “your station is crap for such a rich city,” the mayor was not at a loss .

Not shit, but modern. This is if outside. And inside its functionality should be decided by reconstruction.

Vadim Shuvalov, head of Surgut

Users did not condemn the head of Surgut for such directness and choice of words, but, on the contrary, now use his phrase as an effective response to any dubious criticism.

6th place. First after God

At a meeting of the Irkutsk administration after the speech of Mayor Dmitry Berdnikov, the deputy regional prosecutor asked for permission to add to what was said. In response, the manager sharply berated the senior justice adviser.

After the mayor, only God speaks.

Dmitry Berdnikov, mayor of Irkutsk

5th place. Flash mob like this

The head of Nizhny Tagil is an expressive and bright mayor. He did not mince words in front of the public, especially when he once again criticized the regional authorities. At a meeting of the metallurgists' union, he broke into a scream, telling the then-current Sverdlovsk governor: “Metallurgy is not a balalaika!” At a speech at the press center of the Yekaterinburg TASS in December 2014, he went all out.

If necessary, we will hold a flash mob tomorrow and people will kneel. How many thousands of people should kneel down and ask that Tagil be given the money that was promised to him?

Sergey Nosov, head of the city of Nizhny Tagil

4th place. We'll rest, but that's not certain

The Kazan mayor became famous in the city for his succinct and vivid statements during “Business Monday” - a weekly operational meeting. Commenting on the situation after the “snow collapse” in the capital of Tatarstan, when traffic in the city was paralyzed, Metshin demanded that officials not relax under any circumstances.

No relaxation, all about fighting the snow! Everyone should sleep at work. Or rather, don’t sleep.

Ilsur Metshin, mayor of Kazan

The mayor answered evasively about when public utilities will be able to rest while working in this mode.

We have to fight the snow. We will rest when the snow and the election campaign are over, maybe... But I don’t promise.

Ilsur Metshin, mayor of Kazan

3rd place. Equivalent replacement

At the “Island of the 90s” festival in April 2016, the head of Yekaterinburg sarcastically commented on attempts to develop a law on patriotism. Evgeny Roizman spoke in the sense that love for the Motherland is impossible without love for the territory where a person lives.

Garbage thrown exactly into the trash can replaces three St. George ribbons.

Evgeny Roizman, head of Yekaterinburg

Roizman also actively maintains pages on social networks, where he speaks openly on many socio-political issues. For example, the Ural mayor described the problem of noise from industrial air conditioners in Green Grove Park as “complete crap and causing cunning.”

2nd place. You don't belong here

In the TV show “10 Minutes at City Hall,” the head of Chita, commenting on the issue of unscrupulous pet owners who walk their pets right on the memorial complex, promised to fight this with administrative measures.

This, of course, is by no means this; we will fight this in the toughest, most cruel way.

Anatoly Mikhalev, head of Chita

1st place. Mysterious city

Magnitogorsk was in first place due to the fact that two of its leaders were remembered by residents for ambiguous expressions. Vitaly Bakhmetyev, who headed the city until the fall of 2016, repeatedly threw journalists into a stupor with his ability to clearly answer the question asked.

Putting everything on the residents is wrong. There is nowhere to move it anymore.

Vitaly Bakhmetyev, ex-mayor of Magnitogorsk

There will be no more money, otherwise there will be less.

Vitaly Bakhmetyev, ex-mayor of Magnitogorsk

However, Bakhmetyev himself still had unresolved issues in his career.

The people don't believe us. I don’t know why.

Vitaly Bakhmetyev, ex-mayor of Magnitogorsk

The current head of Magnitogorsk did not lag behind his predecessor. In particular, he owns the phrase “I never dreamed of being a woman! This is an extremely difficult profession." The city's teaching community remembered him for his opinion about their profession.

I used to think it was somehow boring to be a teacher, but now I see - no, nothing yet.

Sergei Berdnikov, Mayor of Magnitogorsk

Grand Prix I will flog you!

Former mayor of Novorossiysk until September 2016, and now State Duma deputy Vladimir Sinyagovsky, is beyond competition in our top. He was so remembered by the townspeople for his succinct and colorful sayings that by the end of his term of office, the head of the city was given an unusual gift - a collection of quotes from the ex-head of the hero city of Novorossiysk was published .

After some pages of the book found their way onto the Russian Internet, Sinyagovsky, the permanent mayor since 2002, captivated netizens.

We need a specific result - a child, not an orgasm.

Vladimir Sinyagovsky, ex-mayor of Novorossiysk

It’s not interesting to me - who fooled who, who got screwed. The main thing is that it is warm.

Vladimir Sinyagovsky, ex-mayor of Novorossiysk

Sometimes the mayor switched to a philosophical and lyrical mode.

What new did I say today? Nothing!

Vladimir Sinyagovsky, ex-mayor of Novorossiysk

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