Marina Yermakova, the mayor of Serdobsk in Russia’s Penza region, resigned on February 12 after a controversy over the allocation of government housing certificates to two recently naturalized women drew widespread criticism from local residents.

The issue began when Yermakova posted a photograph showing her presenting housing certificates under a state assistance program.

The distribution initially appeared routine, but residents reacted strongly when it became known that the two recipients had only recently received Russian citizenship.

Local families have reportedly waited years for access to similar housing support, prompting accusations of unequal treatment.

Online discussions focused on the family circumstances of the recipients.

Journalistic reporting later identified the women as partners of a Tajik-born man named Navrozchon, who also holds Russian citizenship.

The two women reportedly live on neighboring streets in Serdobsk and gave birth to his children within a month of each other.

Residents stated that the man was frequently seen in public with both women and their children.

Additional reporting indicated that Navrozchon previously worked within the municipal administration of Serdobsk.

This detail intensified allegations that personal connections may have influenced the housing allocation process.

Authorities have not confirmed whether his former employment had any bearing on the decision.

As criticism escalated on social media, Yermakova removed negative comments from her page and restricted further responses.

Residents responded by sending large volumes of digital messages in protest.

The backlash culminated in her resignation announcement.