TV presenter Solovyov called Yekaterinburg his favorite city.

      TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov has apparently softened his rhetoric toward Yekaterinburg.

      This happened after his visit to the celebration of the recent City Day, when he attended the "RMK Energy" festival. As early as August 2024 the TV presenter had noted that Yekaterinburg would have a long time to rid itself of demons.

      "The city before my eyes is turning from a 'city of demons' into the city of Saint Catherine," Vladimir Solovyov said on Monday on his program "Sunday Evening" on the Rossiya-1 channel, EAN agency reports.

      Solovyov even called Yekaterinburg his favorite city. He was speaking about elections in regions with a lot of defense industry.

      Earlier Vladimir Solovyov had called Yekaterinburg a "city of demons" (after the conflict over the development of the square near the drama theater) and a "center of disgusting liberal scum" (during an interview with the presidential envoy to the Ural Federal District, Vladimir Yakushev).

      Another conflict with the authorities of the Ural capital involving Solovyov occurred in June 2022. The trigger was a dance by schoolchildren, in which some saw propaganda of same-sex relationships*). Shortly thereafter a bill was introduced (and subsequently adopted) in the State Duma to ban any propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and the "imposition of information that arouses interest".

      * The LGBT movement has been recognized as extremist in Russia and is banned.