A Volgograd resident's complaint against officials resulted in a criminal case.

Residents of a Volgograd village complained about authorities' attempts to deprive them of their only social facility—a stadium equipped by local activists. The complaint attracted the attention of the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, and an investigation into the case of negligence has been launched.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," in April 2025, residents of the village of Vtoroy Kilometer in the Dzerzhinsky District of Volgograd complained about problems with garbage collection, a lack of sewerage, and street lighting. The complaint was voiced ahead of Vladimir Putin's visit to the city, and some of the concerns raised by residents were quickly addressed by authorities. However, smoldering garbage heaps, problems with street lighting, and undisposed tires remain in the village.

Residents of the Volgograd village of Vtoroy Kilometer filed a collective complaint with federal authorities – the president, the leadership of the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor General's Office, and State Duma deputies.

The complaint stemmed from government notifications about the dismantling of "illegibly installed, unauthorized objects" at the stadium on Okhotskaya Street. Residents there installed a tennis table, built a gazebo, and a volleyball net, and are using the site for sporting events and celebrations, SOTAvision (a registered foreign agent) reported on the evening of May 9.

After demolition notices appeared on the stadium's fence, residents appealed to federal authorities to reverse the decision.

Our village has no social facilities at all.

"The stadium and the school grounds are a lucrative opportunity for developers. Where else are people supposed to go? Our village has no social facilities at all," local resident Ravil Shabanov told the publication.

The stadium is part of the former School No. 41 on Okhotskaya Street. The site contains a soccer field with goals, volleyball net posts, an asphalt running track, and a metal fence, village residents stated in their appeal.

"There are no permanent structures on the stadium grounds, and no approvals for sports equipment are required," V1.ru quoted the residents' appeal as saying.

Village residents are being deprived of essential social infrastructure.

According to the authors of the appeal, this is the only recreational space for residents in the village. "In the village, School No. 41, Polyclinic No. 14 on Kotovsky Street, and the public transportation stop on Rokossovsky Street were previously closed. In the village of Vtoroy Kilometer, the roads and water supply system, which were installed after the Great Patriotic War, are not being repaired. Residents of the village are being deprived of essential social infrastructure, reducing the quality of life for residents. The sports stadium and School No. 41 survived the Great Patriotic War, but School No. 41 could not survive the decisions of the Volgograd administration. After the closure of School No. 41, the sports stadium remained, which the administration […] is trying to liquidate and dismantle the sports equipment there," the publication quotes the appeal of Volgograd residents.

The head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, responded to the residents' appeal, a representative of the regional office of the agency reported.

"The authors of the appeal note that the school, polyclinic, and public transportation stop were previously closed in the village, and the roads and water supply system are not being repaired. After Following the school's closure, the stadium remained the only remaining social infrastructure facility. The Investigative Committee of Russia for the Volgograd Region is investigating this incident under Article 293 of the Russian Criminal Code – "Negligence," the publication quoted him as saying.