An official in the Bryansk region got into a fight with a journalist after being asked questions about public works.
Acting head of the Novozybkov administration Victor Shevelev «rushed into the fight» with local journalist GEnnady Liseenko, who was trying to get a comment on residents' complaints about sidewalk repairs. Following the incident, the head of the city district, Alexander Shchipakin, publicly apologized for his colleague's behavior.
"I believe that such behavior is unacceptable in any situation, even if we're wrong. We must always speak to people in a humane manner." — Shchipakin said after the conflict.
The dispute stemmed from landscaping work on Internatsionalnaya Street in Novozybkov, Bryansk Oblast. According to local residents, during the sidewalk renovation, contractors installed high curbs and raised the level of the pedestrian walkway by almost half a meter. Entrances and exits from private homes were blocked. Outraged by this "improvement," residents contacted the authorities and local media.
Gennady Liseyenko, founder of the Telegram channel "Novozybkov FOX," arrived at the scene to film a report. The head of the city district and chairman of the city council, Alexander Shchipakin, was already there, speaking with residents. Later, the acting head of the Novozybkov administration, Viktor Shevelev, arrived. According to Liseyenko, the official immediately stated that he would not communicate with residents in the presence of a journalist and headed to his official vehicle.
When the journalist tried to ask him questions, a scuffle broke out between them. The published footage shows Shevelev snatching the video camera from the blogger.
Lisenko writes that the official, in response to his request for a comment, "He rushed into the fight."
Following the incident, Shchipakin publicly apologized to local residents and promised to review the improvement project and address any potential errors. Shevelev himself has not publicly commented on the incident.
Rude and boorish behavior by officials has long been commonplace. In Nizhny Novgorod, an official got rude A pensioner who asked about snow removal deadlines was tossed a tangerine peel at her and ordered her to clean up after herself. In the Kursk region, an official called residents were called "overfed people" - they complained about poor garbage collection. In a Krasnoyarsk village, an official hit a local resident for a question about flooding.
Video: Novozybkov FOX
