Yevgeny Naumov, the mayor of the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, announced his early resignation on Monday.
Naumov, whose five-year term was set to expire in November 2027, did not explain the reason behind his departure.
The Krasnodar City Duma accepted Naumov’s resignation and appointed First Deputy Mayor Dmitry Vasilyev as acting head of the city.
The City Duma will select the city’s next mayor from a shortlist presented by Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
Kondratyev initiated a new selection process for mayoral candidates last month.
Born in Krasnodar in 1980, Naumov spent his career within the municipal and regional administration. Local lawmakers elected him mayor in November 2022.
Naumov’s four-year tenure was marked by local protests and controversies over infrastructure and urban planning decisions.
In January, he signed off on plans to build an Orthodox Church on the grounds of a riverside park despite opposition from residents. Since November 2025, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition demanding his resignation.
A local court began hearing a lawsuit against Naumov’s administration over the construction project.
Media reports say that residents objected to a general infrastructure plan adopted by the city under Naumov’s leadership, with some 27,000 residents commenting on the plan, sparking mass protests.
Complaints against Naumov’s administration have also piled up due to the administration’s failure to manage winter weather emergencies and stalled transit projects.
