Former Tambov Region governor Maxim Yegorov, a "comrade" and personal friend of Alexander Sokolov, has been detained.

      As cautiously and presumably as some news agencies reported on July 24 at 6:00 a.m., searches are being conducted at several addresses associated with Egorov in Moscow and Tambov. The former governor is planned to be transported to Moscow for the appointment of a preventive measure (Basmanny District Court).

      A Moscow-based source told Newsler.ru that the "information about Egorov" might interest residents of Kirov, as "your governor called him a personal friend." Another source, previously close to the Kirov governor, also reported that during his introduction to Egorov, he was presented as a friend of Alexander Sokolov, and that this wording reportedly came from the regional leader himself.

      The interlocutor emphasized that this is not the first "July loss" for Alexander Sokolov, as on the 7th, Roman Starovoyt—former governor of Kursk Oblast and previously listed among Alexander Valentinovich's "close friends"—passed away. Although Starovoyt's termination as governor and his relatively short career as head of the Russian Ministry of Transport (May 2024 - June 2025) only strengthened, possibly unilaterally, the bonds of "governor's friendships."

      According to reports from information platforms, Starovoyt left a note in his office that "shook the political circles of Russia," allegedly containing "shocking revelations about corruption at the highest levels of power, abuse of official position, and the actual paralysis of key sectors of the economy." Its meaning, which is not yet published, consists of several sections dedicated to specific corruption facts in the transportation sector (with names of officials and businessmen): inflated estimates for road construction, kickbacks during equipment procurement, and funding of fictitious contractors (repeatedly discussed as theories by the Publishing House).

      The former minister also describes a total distrust of authorities, growing social tension, and economic stagnation caused by the incompetence and corruption of officials, asserting that the management system is essentially destroyed, and that the appearance of vigorous activity merely masks a deep crisis.

      Thus, a Moscow source did not hesitate to ask whether Newsler.ru sees any similarities in Starovoyt's farewell message with the current state of regional road and transport infrastructure, or perhaps believes that the late minister was actually describing the activities of the Kirov road department and its overseeing personnel.

      To this, Newsler.ru quickly replied that it has long been investigating the causes of the doubling in the cost of building the Novovyatka tunnel—from three to six billion rubles (a preliminary project costing three billion was approved by Minister Yuriy Loginov and coordinated with Prime Minister Aleksandr Churin). The "feigned vigorous and, incidentally, very costly activity"—such as the Gate of the Russian North, a monument to Alexander Nevsky that was never registered, and multi-billion projects that are either unnecessary or only benefit the budget—like a world-class campus, as well as endless failed festivals and celebrations—raise only one question among Kirov residents: where is the real work for the benefit of the region? And what will remain "after them"?

      A decade-long spiral

      By the way, one active Kirov politician explained why Egorov and Starovoyt are linked to Aleksandr Sokolov. It turned out that all three were part of the presidential кадровый резерв (personnel reserve) and literally studied in the same class of the Governors' School. While Starovoyt turned 53 on January 20, Egorov celebrated his 48th birthday on May 23 (he served as governor for 26 months—from September 20, 2022, to November 4, 2024), and Sokolov will celebrate his 55th birthday on August 4 (by September 23, 2025, three years will have passed since his inauguration).

      The interlocutor said that after the news of Egorov's detention, Kirov politicians are pondering "God loves the Trinity," but not just wondering whether the two have gone—whether it's time for the third—or recalling events from ten years ago:

      "It's like a spiral of a decade, with the very secret 'list of disgraced governors' as the starting point, where Nikita Belykh was listed third (the document was seen by the author in December 2015). Nikita Yuryevich was aware of this list, as later confirmed by his deputies, but whether he believed in impunity or was greedier than cautious, only in June 2016 Belykh was detained for accepting a large bribe. And there's a similarity not only with the charges filed against Maksim Egorov but also in that the first two persons from the Belykh list received long sentences. Nikita was the third governor... And your publication is unlikely to deny that since this January, persistent rumors have circulated about alleged 'cleanups' of regional leadership."

      We do not deny that we have been regularly receiving such information over the past years. But we prefer popcorn, the front row of the viewing hall, and readiness to start.