"We will suspend, and you will rush in": Kovaleva threatened to cut subsidies for "ATP"

      Today, June 16, 2026, at a meeting of the Duma commission, the work of the "Transport Enterprise" regarding the calculation and collection of fees for the use of the contact trolleybus network supports by third-party organizations was discussed. During the meeting, there was sharp criticism directed at the general director of "TE".

      As is known, many different cables (or suspensions) belonging to various organizations, such as mobile operators, are placed on the "TE" supports. They periodically pay for this service. However, contracts have not been concluded with all of them. And it is unknown who owns some of the cables.

      According to the general director of "TE," Vladimir Byzov, at the beginning of 2025, specialists conducted an inspection of more than three thousand supports and compiled a list of equipment that included about 36,000 suspensions. Of these, 5,100 are suspensions used by "TE." Contracts were concluded for only 12,600 of all the others, and their owners paid 108 million rubles for them in 2025.

      Additionally, specialists hired by "TE" last year identified the owners of 2,300 suspensions. Contracts were concluded with them, and at the beginning of 2026, they paid the enterprise 19.9 million rubles.

      There are still 15,800 suspensions that belong to unknown owners, for which "TE" has not received a penny for many years. Byzov stated that he would involve the same specialists to establish the owners. It remains only to prepare a technical assignment for them.

      The speaker added that "TE" lost a nearly two-year lawsuit with the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia for the Kirov region, as a result of which it was recognized as a monopolist concerning trolleybus supports and was obliged to establish an economically justified tariff for the service. This further delays the resolution of issues with cable owners.

      After the report, a question was raised about the statute of limitations. It should be noted that it is three years. The deputies inquired whether "TE" had attempted to collect money from the recently identified owners not only for 2025 but also for 2023-2024. Byzov replied that they had not worked on this yet.

      The deputies reproached the head of "TE" for not trying to demand compensation for the use of the supports. He countered that the problem did not arise today; it has developed over decades, so it takes time to resolve. And "TE" cannot simply cut the wires, as this is someone else's property.

      The head of the administration, Vyacheslav Simakov, gave Byzov a concise piece of advice: "You go straight along the wires." He replied that they had already started this work. Simakov was outraged: "The problem has existed for several years, and they have only just started!"

      The chairman of the commission asked how much time was needed to prepare a technical assignment for finding the owners of 15,800 suspensions. The speaker said that two months would be enough.

      After that, there was harsh criticism from the city head, Elena Kovaleva. She noted that the management of "TE" had been unable to solve the problem for several years, and now they promised to do it in a couple of months. She added: "You receive large subsidies from the city budget. We will now suspend the amount of your lost profits from the fact that you are underperforming. And you will probably run faster then. And you will not measure your activities in years and months, but in days and hours. You come, say that you have no money to pay taxes and other expenses, and leasing needs to be paid, and all this should be covered by the city budget. Yes, it is a social activity, it needs to continue and help 'TE.' But you are not even trying to earn. You are not even moving. Nothing is needed — just conclude a contract. How do you assess your activities in this direction?" Byzov did not argue: "We have underperformed. We will correct this situation in the shortest possible time."

      The chairman of the commission suggested that "TE" prepare the technical assignment in a month instead of two. Kovaleva added that the issue would be reconsidered in a month, and the general director would have to report in detail on the work done.