Krasnodar Mayor Resigns After Contentious Tenure

Oct. 5, 2026 Yevgeny Naumov. admkrai.krasnodar.ru Yevgeny Naumov, the mayor of the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, announced his early resignation on Monday. Naumov, whose five-year term was set to expire in November 2027, did not explain the reason behind his departure. The Krasnodar City Duma accepted Naumov’s resignation and appointed First Deputy Mayor Dmitry Vasilyev as acting head of the city. The City Duma will select the city's next mayor from a shortlist presented by Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. Kondratyev initiated a new selection process for mayoral candidates last month. Born in Krasnodar in 1980, Naumov spent his career within the municipal and regional administration. Local lawmakers elected him mayor in November 2022. Naumov’s four-year tenure was marked by local protests and controversies over infrastructure and urban planning decisions. In January, he signed off on plans to build an Orthodox Church on the grounds of a riverside park despite opposition from residents. Since November 2025, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition demanding his resignation. A local court began hearing a lawsuit against Naumov’s administration over the construction project. Media reports say that residents objected to a general infrastructure plan adopted by the city under Naumov’s leadership, with some 27,000 residents commenting on the plan, sparking mass protests. Complaints against Naumov’s administration have also piled up due to the administration’s failure to manage winter weather emergencies and stalled transit projects. Read more about: Krasnodar , Politics Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia’s First Children’s Drone School Opens in Krasnodar as Founder Rejects Militarization Claims Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov praised the project as “extremely relevant” given the high demand for drones in both civilian life and war. 2 Min read Krasnodar’s Main Airport Reopens After More Than 3-Year Closure Pashkovsky Airport was among 11 airports in southern and western Russia closed due to safety risks posed by the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read Scores of Birds Stricken in Krasnodar After Latest Black Sea Oil Spill Authorities said around 30 cubic meters of oil, or roughly 200 barrels, leaked during loading at the Novorossiysk port on Aug. 29. 1 Min read Russian Universities to Introduce Mandatory Ideology Lectures Students at Russian universities will be required to attend mandatory lectures on state ideology from next year, Russian independent news outlet Meduza...