A fir tree that had stood in a pensioner’s garden in western Siberia for more than 50 years was stolen by town officials who put it up in the central square and decorated it.
Anna Folts, 86, from Yakovo, a small town about 1,300 miles from Moscow, said that the tree had great sentimental value because she had planted and cared for it with her late son.
She said that she was shocked to discover it standing in the central square less than 70ft from her house.
An investigation revealed that a town construction official had given the order to cut down the tree. The official has since been dismissed.
It is unclear why officials decided to appropriate Ms Folt’s tree rather than buy one. A police spokesman said that a group of people had been involved in chopping down the tree. Prosecutors are considering whether to bring criminal charges.
Advertisement
Russia’s new year kicks off ten days of consecutive public holidays. Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7, is largely a religious holiday.
Distrust of officials is high in Russia. Despite a high-profile government campaign against corruption, only 25 per cent of Russians believe that President Putin is capable of defeating the problem, according to an opinion poll by the Levada Centre in Moscow.