Russian city mayor faces backlash for giving gifts to Azerbaijani children Russophobia or misplaced hate?

The administration of Yekaterinburg’s Zheleznodorozhny District has come under fire after its head, Vitaly Pershin, fulfilled the wishes of three local children as part of the nationwide charity campaign “Wishes Tree”. The gifts, intended to bring festive cheer, unexpectedly sparked a wave of negative comments online, the Russian publication Vecherniye Vedomosti reports.

Pershin selected wish balls from the decorated Christmas tree in the city hall lobby for 8-year-old Ali, 7-year-old Milena, and their younger brother Vagif. Ali asked for a stunt scooter, Milena requested a craft kit, and Vagif wished for sweets. The district administration explained that since Ali comes from a large family, Pershin also gave presents to his siblings.

However, the news sparked criticism on social media, with comments such as: “My God, what a shame” and “In a Russian city, were there no Russians found?”. Some even labelled Pershin a “Russophobe.” The backlash was so intense that the children’s father asked the district head to retract the gifts to stop the online harassment.

A city-affiliated channel, Yekaterinburg. Glavnoe, clarified that the family, originally from Azerbaijan, has been Russian citizens for 20 years. The post rhetorically asked whether the “Wishes Tree” campaign should start sorting participants by nationality or religion, adding: “No one has gone mad, right?”

The Zheleznodorozhny District administration noted that Ali and Milena attend the Tatischev Gymnasium, while their father works in construction and their mother is a homemaker. Pershin wished the family well-being, peace, and good health.

The “Wishes Tree” campaign, running this year from 15 November 2025 to 28 February 2026, encourages officials at all levels — including President Vladimir Putin — to fulfil children’s holiday wishes. Participants can also select wishes online at елкажеланий.рф.

Notably, Pershin participated in the campaign last year, giving a gift to 8-year-old Margarita. At that time, social media users reportedly did not react negatively (the child’s nationality apparently did not bother them then).