What were Kirov residents reading on Newsler in 2025?

      Interestingly, the most read article this year was the one about the farewell to the former head of the Kirov administration, Vasily Kiselev. Several articles about lawyer Anton Dolgikh also made the top list.

      Farewell

      The article about the farewell to Vasily Alekseyevich was read by a record 83.5 thousand people. Recall that it took place on May 2 at the Vyatka Philharmonic. About two hundred people came to see Kiselev off on his final journey. The head of the Kirov administration, Vyacheslav Simakov, attended, who, however, turned out to be the only representative of the current authorities.

      Simakov noted that he personally did not have the chance to work under Vasily Kiselev’s leadership — unlike his father at the Vyatka Shipping Company. And his father spoke highly of his boss. Vyacheslav Nikolaevich added that Kiselev was the only nationally elected mayor who did a lot for the city. Many other speeches with warm words about the deceased were also made. The last to speak was his grandson. He recalled how his grandfather taught him to fish and play chess, and added that Kiselev was and will remain his pride and example.

      In the comments to this article, people also remembered the former mayor kindly. “There won’t be any more like him,” one of them noted.

      Mass blocking of cards and transfers

      Second place in the top was taken by an August article about mass blockings of cards and transfers — 66.7 thousand readers. It said that people began complaining more often about this due to a rise in fraud.

      Over six months, the Bank of Russia received 28.6% more complaints about credit institutions than in the same period of 2024. These were mostly claims concerning the blocking of transactions, accounts and bank cards, as well as the suspension of banking services. In total, over six months the regulator received 182.4 thousand complaints.

      Comments under this article are mostly negative. People wrote that the measures taken by banks more often hinder them than protect them from fraudsters. It even reached paradoxes. For example, one person noted that he encountered a block on a transfer to himself and could not get a clear explanation from the bank as to why it happened.

      The North Pole

      In third place was an article about the North Magnetic Pole shifting toward Siberia (49.1 thousand readers). This was reported by researchers from the British Geological Survey.

      According to scientists, over the past 20 years the North Magnetic Pole has shifted from Canadian territory toward Siberia. Previously, such changes had not been observed. The researchers added that the shifting process is linked to magnetic anomalies beneath Canada and Siberia. It has had a major impact on the operation of navigation systems.

      In the comments, one resident of our region noted: the fact that the pole is creeping somewhere is not that scary. Far more frightening is when fuel prices start creeping up.

      Dolgikh’s detention

      Next in interest for Kirov residents was the news about the detention of lawyer Anton Dolgikh (44.3 thousand readers). This happened on February 18.

      Our source in law enforcement reported that the “well-known Kirov figure” was detained on suspicion of taking bribes and that he is accused under Article 291 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

      The source also reported that initially Dolgikh was taken under escort to one of the hospitals because he claimed to have a viral illness. However, later the lawyer was permitted to be sent to a pretrial detention center (SIZO), where he subsequently remained for a long time.

      Judging by the comments, not all residents of the region support Dolgikh, but there were those who were upset by the news. One commenter wrote: “Very sad. Anton fights for the rights of ordinary people by various methods.” Another expressed the opinion that Dolgikh could have been set up.

      All-Russian rural Disgrace

      On June 27–28, the All-Russian rural Sabantuy took place in Vyatskie Polyany. Or the All-Russian rural Disgrace, as our reporters nicknamed it, who, much to their regret, decided to go. The article about it was read by 37.2 thousand people.

      In particular, journalists noted that much of the territory was a muddy mess and there were no proper walkways. Moreover, despite the bad weather, no one thought to postpone the event. Things were only more or less good and pretty where the officials were located; on the rest of the territory it was as if improvement had been forgotten.

      The Vyatskoye compound turned out to be rather empty and dull, especially compared to the Tatar one. Food prices were unjustifiably high, and the queues were huge. There were separate problems with food and accommodation for the performers and volunteers.

      It is also worth noting problems with logistics and transport — a shortage of buses, crushing crowds, and so on. In addition, representatives of the government press service allowed themselves to treat the media with pressure and aggression because of criticism in publications. And the promised “thousands of events” were actually absent or were canceled.

      In the comments, local residents spoke of the event just as negatively. One of them wrote: “Expectations were not met. The organization of VIP reception — top-notch. All other guests were forgotten.”

      Best taxi driver

      Sixth place went to an article about the best taxi driver. It was read by 30.9 thousand people.

      In July, the awarding of the winners of the “Best Taxi Driver in Russia” competition took place in Kirov on Theatre Square. As a result, the best taxi driver in Russia was recognized as Oleg Makhmatov from St. Petersburg. In second place was Ruslan Tesakov, a taxi driver from the Tula region. Third place went to Artem Ivakhnenko from the Sverdlovsk region.

      The winner received 150 thousand rubles and the keys to a brand-new Lada Granta, which was donated by the government of the Kirov region. The participant who placed second received 100 thousand rubles, and the third finalist received 50 thousand rubles.

      Commenters reacted negatively to the news — most did not like that the Kirov authorities, who seemingly have nothing better to do, are holding an event that has nothing to do with the region, and are even buying a car. Some expressed the opinion that a Lada Granta is not a prize but a punishment, and that giving such a car to the winner “looks like an insult.”

      Dolgikh: “I beg for mercy”

      In seventh place was a March article about the court’s consideration of Anton Dolgikh’s complaint against the measure of restraint chosen for him. It attracted 30.1 thousand readers.

      At the hearing, the defendant’s lawyers stated that he had come forward voluntarily and admitted the fact of giving a bribe, but had not committed other crimes. In addition, he is a father of many children and misses his family very much, and therefore should be placed under house arrest. Dolgikh himself said in addressing the court: “Every minute here is torture, not only for me but also for my family. I beg for mercy, I admit my mistake and ask for leniency. Return me to my family. I ask you, save and spare my family.”

      However, these words did not influence the prosecutor — she expressed the view that the measure of restraint should not be changed. The court issued the same decision: “Leave the ruling of the Pervomaisky Court unchanged.”

      In the comments, users reacted to Dolgikh’s words skeptically. Many wrote that they did not understand what he expected if he had indeed broken the law and admitted it. There were practically no people sympathetic to him this time.