Andrei Staroverov

Andrei Staroverov was a deputy of the Lensovet - Petrosovet (1990-1993). 15 years ago, he moved from St. Petersburg to the village of Pes in Khvoininsky District of Novgorod region, where he took an active part in public life: he opposed the liquidation of rural settlements, centralisation of power, and unaccountability of the authorities.

In February 2023, Staroverov appeared in a film about the destruction of local self-government in the Novgorod region.

On April 5, 2024, he was searched in a libel case because of a social media post about the first deputy head of the administration of the village of Pes, Inna Fedorova, in which he wrote that she was guilty of genocide and that all officials held their positions illegally. During the search, Staroverov refused to give the policeman his lawyer's phone. When the law enforcer tried to take it away, he put his hand with the phone behind his back. The policeman later claimed that the activist hit him. In addition, Staroverov refused to sign procedural documents: he tore up the search report and threw its scraps in the face of the investigator. In October 2024, it became known that two more cases were brought against him: the use of violence against a police officer and obstruction of the investigation. On December 3, 2024, Staroverov was sentenced under these two articles to a fine of 80 thousand rubles.

In February 2025, a new case was brought against Staroverov for insulting the victim in the previous case, the police investigator, in court. In July, he was sentenced to a fine of 25 thousand rubles.

On November 6, 2025, Staroverov died.