How a Mayor Died, Why Youth Leaves, and What Surgut Was Like: Top 4 Stories of the Week
Another week is behind us, and we are back with a selection of new articles. This time, we decided to dig a little into the past—and found a lot of interesting things there.
How People«s Mayor of Nefteyugansk Vladimir Petukhov Died: New Details of the 1990s Murder
On 26 June 1998, Nefteyugansk Mayor Vladimir Petukhov was killed. This day remains a tragic date in the city«s history. Petukhov was one of the first to accuse the oil company YUKOS of non-payment of taxes and critical delays in wages to Nefteyugansk residents, and its co-owner Khodorkovsky (declared a foreign agent in Russia, listed as a terrorist and extremist)—of creating criminal financial schemes.
As Petukhov«s widow recalls, attempts were first made to tame the mayor: he was invited to a sauna with girls, suitcases of money were brought—but he remained unbending. Then threats were made against Petukhov»s colleagues and associates, which were even conveyed through their children playing in the yard.
In a final desperate attempt to draw attention to the lawlessness, the mayor declared a hunger strike, and a few days after it ended, he was shot dead on his way to work. In this article we recall one of the most high-profile murders in Yugra and share new details.
Brutal Murder of a Boy and the Panic That Gripped Surgut. Recalling the Horrific Events of the 90s on the Tragedy«s Anniversary
In 1990, a gang of apartment thieves terrorized Surgut. They acted quickly: they picked locks, entered, took money and jewelry, and fled. They learned about wealthy townspeople through taxi drivers, and whether someone was home—through electricity meters. If the meter wasn«t spinning, the apartment was empty.
One such burglary went off plan. When the robber was already inside, 9-year-old Andryusha Sokolov unfortunately returned home. On the anniversary of the tragedy, we recall the horrific murder of a child that made the entire city cry. Read in this article.
Surgut Is Not Home: Stories of Young Yugra Residents Who Found Themselves in Other Cities
According to official data, the population of Yugra is growing. Some move for work and northern wages, others enroll in Yugra universities and stay.
But if you talk to young Yugra residents, it becomes clear: many, on the contrary, want to leave. Including those who have lived here since birth.
Why does the youth want to leave their native North? The harsh climate is not the only reason. We spoke with Zoomers who moved from Yugra about why this happened, what is lacking here, and under what conditions they would be willing to return—read in this article.
Surgut, Frozen in the 20th Century: Publishing Retro Photos That Will Instantly Transport You to the Past
In Soviet times, every city had a street named after the leader. Often—in the very center. Now, Lenin Avenue is the heart of Surgut. It stretches from the main building of Surgut State University on the banks of the Saima River to the intersection with Profsoyuznaya Street. But once, Lenin Street was only a few hundred meters long.
And every city had at least one monument to Lenin. In Surgut, a plaster sculpture was located on Energostroy Square. Now it is Soviets Square, but Lenin is no longer there—in 2005, the monument was dismantled due to its dilapidated state.
One could tell a lot about the history of Surgut. Or one could do without words—take a look at the retro photos that will instantly transport you to the city«s past.
