The head of the city administration in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug faced questions about a controversial live session in which prepared answers appeared to be used for agreed-upon inquiries. Local coverage noted the issue and indicated that the information came from a familiar inside source.
On September 19, the newly elected mayor of Gubkinsky, Andrei Bandurko, took part in a live question-and-answer event with residents. Soon after, it emerged that the topics presented for discussion by the moderator had been laid out in advance, shaping the conversation and guiding the official’s responses.
During the broadcast, a large number of questions were raised. It was reported that some answers had been discussed beforehand, and that staff from the mayor’s office and the city’s press team played a role in framing the message. Observers familiar with the local environment suggested that the scrutiny was particularly sharp in a city where many people know each other well. Some attendees appeared to be present more to check in than to seek new information.
According to those close to the process, the broadcast appeared to be coordinated with a media person who holds leadership roles in both the City Duma and a local media outlet that operates several channels. Those involved reportedly had the opportunity to direct the flow of questions toward topics of interest to certain groups, especially regarding plans for construction, development, and improvements in Gubkinsky. The city administration’s press service and the local media outlet publicly denied that the questions were dominated by their staff, insisting that the event welcomed a broad range of residents and inquiries.
Bandurko had taken the oath of office in front of the townspeople about a month earlier and had pledged to serve their interests. The oath-taking was described as a formal moment in which the new mayor committed to guiding the city with transparency and accountability, a promise the public expected to be followed with tangible results and open communication.
Separately, in local cultural news, a Perm-based entrepreneur known for founding an investment company was credited with a creative initiative, including authoring a one-act ballet and its accompanying libretto, signaling a town, and perhaps a broader region, interest in blending civic leadership with cultural projects.