Former Arkhangelsk mayor wants to rename the city ‘Putingrad’

After nearly two years in a pandemic, the people of Arkhangelsk are tired. That’s why now is the perfect time to rename the city “Putingrad,” says former Mayor Alexander Donskoi, arguing that the move would kickstart the hopefulness and joy that’s been missing since the long winter of the coronavirus.

In an interview with the website 29.ru, Donskoi pointed out that Grozny already has a street named after President Putin, which he suggests has helped win additional federal funding for Chechnya.

“Putingrad is the perfect name. Nobody’s going to screw up in a town with that name,” explained Donskoi. If the measure comes up for a vote at the next session of the Arkhangelsk city council, no deputy will vote against it, he insists.

Alexander Donskoi served as mayor of Arkhangelsk from 2005 until 2008.