Penza, 27 May 2016. PenzaNews. The Penza city Duma deputy Sergei Lisovol (member of the United Russia party faction) expressed doubt over the fact that the general director of “Domostroitel” Ivan Kulikov deserves the title of the Honorary Citizen of Penza.

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When the proposal to award Ivan Kulikov with the title was reviewed during the 22nd City Duma session on Friday, May 27, the deputy expressed his belief that Penza citizens are not generally positive over Ivan Kulikov’s activities.

“Over the past 10 years, as far as I remember, mister Kulikov [caused] only protests, pickets, and so on. […] Constant extortion. […] What has this man done for the city over the past 10 years?” he asked.

Among the people who reacted to these words was a woman working in “Domostroitel,” who did not introduce herself during her emotional retort.

“He’s been building apartment buildings in Penza for 42 years now: over the four decades […] over 1.5 million square meters of housing was built. […] Many real estate producers ceased to be during the crisis times, but Kulikov organized a painless transition of the real estate factory under the market economy, which allowed us to survive the financial crisis,” she pointed out.

“Pardon me, but it hurts me to hear your words. We are currently constructing a house in the Severnaya Polyana city area – it is a difficult one. And Kulikov works and works. He never stops working. We, all our staff, support and respect him,” she added.

In turn, the Penza city mayor Victor Kuvaytsev stressed that the real estate factory, known from the Soviet years, managed to integrate itself in the modern market.

“And if we see the figures and dynamics of construction, the locations and their quality, and compare the square meter pricing, the housing is quite affordable. […] Not every company of 500 staff is ready to fully vote for their leader, no matter the form,” the city administration head pointed out.

As a result, 20 out of the 23 City Duma deputies present at the meeting voted for naming Ivan Kulikov the Honorary Citizen of Penza, with two abstained and one against.