Krasnodar residents have announced a signature drive demanding the mayor's resignation.

The public discussion of plans to build a church on the embankment in Krasnodar's Yubileiny microdistrict lasted a week, but not everyone was able to participate. Residents distributed leaflets and held pickets. Activists from the Yubileiny microdistrict submitted a request to the administration for a rally against development in a green space on October 18th, but they were only permitted to rally in Klenovy Park, which is ten kilometers from the microdistrict. Authorities also refused to approve a rally for October 26th. Krasnodar authorities rejected all residents' objections to the development of Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment, but acknowledged the reports of supporters of the church construction. Activists called the administration's actions a mockery and pledged to continue the fight. Activists from the Yubileiny microdistrict announced a signature collection campaign demanding the resignation of Krasnodar Mayor Yevgeny Naumov. Today, signature collection will take place from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Five Stars shopping center.

"We demand the early termination of Naumov's powers! The head of Krasnodar initiated the construction of a gigantic church on the Alley of our Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment—contrary to the opinions of residents, urban planning regulations, and the Constitution. We are being deprived of the right to rest, a favorable environment, and participation in decisions that affect our lives," the Telegram channel said.

In the text of the appeal, which is attached to the publication, Naumov is accused of "societal division on religious grounds" due to disputes over the future church.

"A dangerous social conflict is growing, and one could even say a schism in society on religious grounds, initiated by the mayor of Krasnodar. <...> "Instead of addressing local issues and solving the problems of residents of the microdistrict and the city, this mayor is making our lives worse and exacerbating the problems. In our microdistrict, which is home to approximately 100,000 people, there is no stadium or cinema, and the "House of Culture" is located on the first floor of a ten-story building with an assembly hall that seats 30 (Thirty!!!) spectators. "There are problems not only with sports and cultural institutions, but also with healthcare and educational institutions," the activists noted.

They also noted that the authorities are ignoring their questions and have refused to approve a rally against the embankment development three times.

"Residents are perplexed—how can they undertake a billion-dollar construction project when the roads of the Yubileyny microdistrict are full of potholes, sewage flows untreated into the Kuban River, and the meager salaries of teachers and kindergarten workers barely allow them to make ends meet," the appeal states.

Vitaly Cherkasov reported on his Telegram channel that he received a response to his appeal to the Presidential Administration. It states that the early termination of the Krasnodar mayor's powers based on the private opinion of an individual citizen is not provided for by law as part of the review of citizen appeals.

"But what if there are a hundred such 'private' opinions? Or a thousand? Or tens of thousands? Perhaps then the President of the Russian Federation should listen to them and exercise his powers in relation to the head of the municipality?" Cherkasov noted on October 29.