"Is he such a distinguished person?": A United Russia member from Yekaterinburg expressed outrage at the millions spent on the Boris Ryzhy poet's park.
Yekaterinburg City Duma deputy Alexander Kolesnikov, a United Russia member, publicly questioned whether the memory of the renowned poet Boris Ryzhy deserves significant budgetary investment. The parliamentarian harshly criticized the allocation of funds for the improvement of a public garden named after him in Vtorchermet, contrasting the literary figure with Soviet heroes.
Conflict in the City Council: Poet vs. Prosecutor
At a Duma meeting, Alexander Kolesnikov openly expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of city funds for the improvement of public spaces.
Alexander Kolesnikov, deputy of the Yekaterinburg City Duma: "I don't understand why—is he some kind of distinguished figure or something? But no one's allocating money for the squares dedicated to Yaroslav Leshukov, Georges Tokarev, Hero of the Soviet Union, or Prosecutor Popov. What's the point?"
His fellow members of the United Russia party tried to cool the ardor. They explained to Alexander Kolesnikov that municipal budget funds are allocated exclusively for specific projects with a developed and approved concept, something the parks he mentioned simply do not yet have.
The deputy's outburst provoked a wave of irony among local residents. Hundreds of puzzled comments are being posted on social media by Yekaterinburg residents. "Let him come and give me a tour, and I'll tell him," wrote one resident. "One question: who are all these people the deputy listed?" added another participant.
17 million for the "Ural Yesenin"
Boris Ryzhy Square was officially opened in Yekaterinburg quite recently—in September 2024, to coincide with the poet's 50th birthday. The public space is located in the Chkalovsky District along Titova Street. The location was chosen deliberately: the poet's house and the school he attended are located nearby.
Last year, 17 million rubles were allocated from the budget for a large-scale renovation of this area. All improvement work is planned to be completed this year.
According to the project, the space along Titova Street will be divided into 11 functional zones. This will include a modern children's playground, equipped areas for sports and quiet relaxation, and a food court. The concept's authors promise to pay special attention to preserving the existing green space as much as possible.
Context: Why Boris Ryzhy is important for Yekaterinburg
According to many researchers and contemporaries, Boris Ryzhy was one of the most talented and original Russian poets of the late 20th century. He is often called the voice of the last Soviet generation and the "Ural Yesenin" for his poignant lyricism, which celebrated the harsh everyday life of the industrial outskirts of Sverdlovsk.
The writer's life ended tragically: in 2001, at the age of 26, Ryzhiy committed suicide, leaving behind a rich creative legacy that has become a hallmark of Ural culture. His poems forever capture the spirit of that very Yekaterinburg, which still resonates in the hearts of thousands of readers:
Blue clouds hang over houses, houses, houses—they will remain with us forever, forever, forever. Only steam, only white in the blue above the massive stone slabs… We will never disappear anywhere, We are stronger and more delicate than granite. <> And when we leave each other, carry away on your wings only steam, only white in the blue, blue and white in the blue…
