Deputy Maxim Vasilyev and Neighbor Dispute Linked to Defenders of the Fatherland Day Celebrations
A Kursk Regional Duma deputy, Maxim Vasilyev, faced allegations of involvement in a neighbor dispute following comments received about making Defenders of the Fatherland Day celebrations too loud at his home on February 23. Local police opened an inquiry into the incident, and press reports indicate heightened scrutiny around the matter.
A regional spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that a conflict occurred and escalated to a physical confrontation. Investigators determined the identities of everyone involved at the scene, and authorities noted that the probe is ongoing while the investigation gathers further details.
Vasilyev stated that he was simply visiting and did not participate in the fight. He described the events as a quarrel between neighbors that he witnessed from a distance, emphasizing that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He also stressed that he is an ordinary resident who occasionally goes to social visits, not a participant in any altercation.
According to the deputy, the video circulating online shows only a fragment of the incident and has been taken out of context. He claimed the footage does not reveal how people entered the apartment, nor does it capture the swearing, shouting, or other activities that occurred behind the scenes.
Vasilyev insisted that any visible blood on his face was not connected to the fight and explained that a preexisting vision problem contributed to an injury. He wears glasses routinely, and without them, he reportedly collided with a wooden shelf in a corridor, which caused the eye injury described in his account. He labeled the online postings as provocations meant to mislead viewers.
The controversy surrounding Maksim Vasilyev extends back to late December 2022, when a public stir began to unfold around the deputy. At one point, a video appeared online that appeared to show a birthday greeting given in the midst of a vacation, featuring a person lounging on a beach and enjoying cocktails with tongue-in-cheek remarks about wealth and mood. Such content intensified scrutiny and public discussion about Vasilyev’s public image and conduct.
Vasilyev later argued that the video was intended for a private circle and should not have been accessible to the wider public. Despite his assurances, a significant portion of the online audience expressed dissatisfaction with the behavior depicted and questioned the deputy’s judgment. The Kursk regional governor, Roman Starovoit, was among the public figures who weighed in during the ensuing conversations about the episode.
In the weeks that followed, Vasilyev posted another video described as coming from a distant location, which he framed as a separate matter from the prior online content. The episode drew attention to how public officials navigate personal moments that become part of the public record, raising questions about accountability and media portrayal in regional politics.