"Dark and depressing": Tsaryuk suggested changing the time zone in the region

      A press conference was held in Kirov on the initiative of Vyacheslav Tsaryuk, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Kirov region: he proposes to transfer the Kirov region to a different time zone and hold a referendum on this issue. Before the discussion began, the speakers confusedly clarified how everything would happen.

      Tsaryuk recalled that until 1991, the region lived on the time of "Moscow + 1". The transfer to the Moscow time zone, according to him, took place without discussions and a referendum. Now the deputy believes that the region should return at least to the previous time, and ideally switch immediately to Moscow Time +2. At the same time, he admitted that at least one hour in advance would be enough to start.

      Among the arguments are poor sleep of residents, early sunrises (around 2:30 in June), evening darkness at eight in the evening and, as a result, a decrease in the quality of life. Tsaryuk claims that darkness in the evenings leads to an increase in accidents and inconveniences for villagers, gardeners and those who work on the land.

      Among the arguments were references to the experience of the Perm Region, Samara, Saratov and Ulyanovsk regions, which already live in a time other than Moscow. And Moscow itself, as it turned out, is not in its own time zone.

      Physician Valery Kozvonin provided data on the impact of early risers on health: according to him, the discrepancy between biological and social rhythms increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes, metabolic disorders and depression. He advocated for "biologically based" time.

      Farmer Andrey Gopkalo, who also acted as an expert, said that even animals suffer from the current regime: "They wake up at night, they run hungry. It gets dark at seven—thirty in the fall-no mowing, no yard work." Ecologist Alexander Shtin added that the transition can save up to 1% of energy consumption and, above all, "will have a positive impact on the quality of life."

      According to Tsaryuk, the majority of public opinion measurements show steady support for the transition to a new era. In the VKontakte survey in 2021, more than 16 thousand people participated — about 60% were in favor. At the same time, telegram polls give the opposite result. The MP himself explains this to "different audiences": "VKontakte is for the majority of the population, Telegram is for officials, business and youth."

      The press conference also discussed how to hold a referendum. Tsaryuk suggests combining it with the elections to the State Duma and Legislative Assembly in 2026 in order to minimize costs and increase turnout. To launch the campaign, you need to collect 20,000 signatures. "We will collect both 50 and 100 thousand," the deputy assures.

      When the correspondent Newsler.ru She reminded that in society the topic of time, as well as the renaming of streets, causes conflicts, especially during its period, Tsaryuk replied: "If we see a borderline state of 40% to 60%, this is not an infringement of someone's rights, in any case, on the contrary, it gives a chance for implementation. And, as they say, may the strongest win." He also noted that there will always be dissatisfied with this issue, and recalled that in addition to questions about the transfer of time, there is also the renaming of streets, and the eternal "Vyatka or Kirov."