In the Far East Russian town of Ussuriysk, a former journalist has launched a satirical project to poke fun at local authorities’ inability to respond to citizens’ problems.
Meet Vitaly Nalivkin, a fake politician who solves Ussuriysk’s very real problems.
Nalivkin’s slapstick solutions — such as installing air fresheners around town to improve air quality — are less about their effectiveness than they are about highlighting authorities’ lack of action.
His page already has more than 30,000 followers.
While the project is popular among Ussuriysk residents, the local authorities likely aren’t among Nalivkin’s loyal viewers.
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.
Remind me later.
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])