Press Release, 17.11.2025

Photo: Veliky Novgorod Mayor Alexander Rozbaum and Duma Speaker Konstantin Somov / Photo by the Veliky Novgorod Duma Press Service

Yabloko Deputy Chair and Veliky Novgorod Duma deputy Anna Cherepanova is demanding that the Public Prosecutor General’s Office investigate the legality of a twofold salary increase for Veliky Novgorod Mayor Alexander Rozbaum and city officials. A corresponding statement has already been sent to the supervisory authority.

It should be noted that on 24 October, the Veliky Novgorod Duma considered the question of a record salary increase for local officials: Mayor Alexander Rozbaum asked deputies to approve an increase in his own salary by almost twofold — according to Yabloko’s estimates, to 480,000 roubles per month (at the time of the vote, his salary was 260,000 roubles). Duma Chairman Konstantin Somov also requested an increase in his salary from 250,000 roubles to 430,000 roubles per month. Veliky Novgorod’s budget deficit exceeds 300 million roubles, Anna Cherepanova emphasised. At the city parliament session, she voted “against” the unfair salary proposal.

Now, in her statement to the Public Prosecutor General’s Office, Cherepanova indicates: the growth in monetary remuneration from 1 October exceeded indexation of salaries for federal civil servants by 8.5 times and is not justified by anything. Moreover, budget expenditure in connection with salary increases in 2026 will grow by more than 400 million roubles. Veliky Novgorod’s budget deficit will persist. It already systematically lacks funds for capital repairs of apartment blocks, repairs of nurseries and schools, courtyard improvements and much else.

But that is not all. Deputies, voting on 24 October for salary increases for the mayor and officials, made the decision with gross violations of Regulations: the package of documents lacked financial and economic justification, and the comparative table of changes was presented only partially. Duma Chairman Konstantin Somov was obliged to return the document to the Administration for revision, but did not do so.

Anna Cherepanova calls the decision on twofold growth in remuneration for the Veliky Novgorod mayor and other officials “cynical and unjust”: “There should not be a situation where leaders assign themselves a salary of 500,000 per month, whilst teachers on two positions receive only 40–50,000 roubles.”

It is quite possible that Alexander Rozbaum and Konstantin Somov abused power, ensuring adoption of a decision on using citizens’ funds for purposes of personal enrichment, Cherepanova believes.