Kirov Mayor Removed After Anti-Corruption Push
In the Kirov region, a participant in the war in Ukraine was dismissed following his statements on corruption. Yesterday, the head of the settlement Sosnovka, Nikita Gorelov, was sent on leave.
Consensus
- Nikita Gorelov, a veteran of the Ukraine war and graduate of the 'Time of Heroes' program, was dismissed as mayor of Sosnova in Kirov Oblst.
- The dismissal followed a local government reform that abolished the Sosnova municipal district and replaced it with the Vyatskopolyskoye municipal district.
- Gorelov claimed he faced sustained pressure during his tenure and that his removal was a 'quiet way' to get rid of him.
- He accused regional authorities of using veterans for publicity and then discarding them.
- Gorelov had initiated an investigation into the city council speaker over construction violations and criticized regional leadership for corruption and underfunding.
- The decision to remove him was made by deputies of the newly formed Vyatskopolyskoye Municipal District.
- The reform was formally enacted in November 2025, when the regional parliament abolished municipal districts and created municipal districts.
- Gorelov stated he was the first 'Time of Heroes' graduate forcibly removed from office.
Points of divergence
- Gorelov received a formal order to return to the front in December 2024, which was later blocked by Governor Alexander Sokolov. — novaya_eu
- Gorelov's assistant claimed that Governor Alexander Sokolov orchestrated the order to return to the front. — mediazona
- The Kremlin discussed Gorelov's case at a seminar on internal policy in 2025 and labeled his appointment a 'failed experience'. — tg_severrealii
- Gorelov stated that the new district head, Viktoriya Voitsekhovskaya, directly told him he was being sent 'to free breads'. — tg_svobodnieslova
- The dismissal occurred during the first session of deputies of the newly formed Vyatskopolynskoye municipal district on October 21. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The regional parliament passed the reform law in November 2025. — meduza
Coverage (6 sources)
- In the Kirov region, the mayor was removed from office and threatened with return to the front of a graduate who began fighting corruption — The Moscow Times
- In the Kirov region, a mobilized mayor of the city was sent on leave. He tried to fight corruption — Новая газета Европа
- War veteran in Ukraine Nikita Gorelov removed from mayor of Kirovskaya Sosnovka; he claims authorities use veterans 'for hype' — Медиазона
- In Kirov region, war participant in Ukraine was fired after his statements on corruption — Север.Реалии
- Mayor of Sosnovka Nikita Gorelov was dismissed in the Kirov region. He received the post through a program for 'SVO veterans', but then began criticizing corruption — Meduza
- Mayor of Kirov region, 'SVO veteran', dismissed for fighting corruption in power. Kremlin called... — Вёрстка