Maury and Bikaluk shared how they "fool around" on April 1st.

      April 1st is celebrated as April Fools' Day—a worldwide holiday dedicated to jokes, pranks, and fun. On this day, even serious people allow themselves a little mischief. Some tease their colleagues over the phone, while others send out fake documents that then go viral across messaging apps. We asked well-known residents of Kirov to recall their most vivid April Fools' stories.

      Albert Bikaluk: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs order" that was taken seriously

      Deputy Albert Bikaluk recounted how he once became a participant in a successful April Fools' prank—and inadvertently helped it go viral. According to him, about ten years ago, an acquaintance sent him a fake order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The document looked incredibly convincing: official letterhead, a coat of arms, the minister's signature.

      "It supposedly stated that from a certain date, all motorists without seat belts must wear helmets. It was done so convincingly that it looked almost like a real document," Bikaluk recalls.

      He immediately realized it was a joke but decided to support the prank and forwarded the message to his acquaintances in messaging apps.

      "It quickly spread through the chats, causing a lively reaction and discussions. People actively shared it with each other, discussing what was happening. Some laughed along with me, while others wondered how such rules could be accepted?" the deputy shared with a light smile.

      Andrey Mauri: "The director of a non-existent plant called"

      Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Kirov region Andrey Mauri recalled one of his April Fools' pranks from his time working in the city executive committee. According to him, in the late 80s, colleagues decided to prank one of the managers.

      In the chief's reception area, there was a very responsible secretary. While a tense meeting was taking place in the office, she received a call from someone claiming to be the director of a… snow-drying plant.

      Of course, such an enterprise did not exist in Kirov. However, the secretary, not suspecting any trickery, took the call seriously. Moreover, the caller insisted that the matter was "very important" and even "vital," otherwise a tragedy could occur.

      The girl burst into the office and relayed the message about the important call. When the chief asked who was calling and heard about the "snow-drying plant," those present couldn't hold back—the office literally erupted with laughter. As Mauri noted, this prank became an unexpected relief in a serious work environment.