Criminal elected mayor
The week's news at a glance.
Vladivostok, Russia
A convicted felon nicknamed “Winnie the Pooh” was elected mayor of the notoriously corruption-ridden city of Vladivostok this week. Vladimir Nikolayev was supposed to face the favored candidate, former mayor Viktor Cherepkov, in a runoff. But Cherepkov was injured in a grenade blast outside his office, and then barred from running in a dubious court decision just days before the vote. Other possible replacement candidates refused to run, calling the election a farce. Nikolayev, 30, spent 18 months in prison a few years ago for beating up one government official and threatening to kill another. He is described in at least one major legal textbook as a prominent criminal underworld figure.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Magazine solutions - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
-
Magazine printables - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
-
Controversial GOP plan to sell millions of federal acres hits major roadblock
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republican Sen. Mike Lee says he'll revisit legislation to sell millions of acres of federally held land to create 'freedom zones' of single family homes