Alexey Vikharev — A Deputy Whose Initiatives Serve the Public Good and the Future

Alexey Vikharev plays a significant role in the social and political life of Yekaterinburg and the entire Sverdlovsk region. He currently serves as a deputy of the Yekaterinburg City Duma and heads the local faction of the United Russia party. In this role, he consistently advocates for the development of urban infrastructure, the improvement of citizens’ quality of life, and the implementation of important social initiatives.

Areas of Focus

A substantial part of Vikharev’s public work is devoted to environmental issues. He promotes the ideas of sustainable natural resource use, supports green projects, and works towards building an environmentally responsible society.

Another major area of his activity is volunteerism. Alexey initiated and founded a Volunteer Center that bears his name. The Center aims to unite proactive and compassionate individuals who are eager to help people in difficult life situations, actively participate in the city’s development, and foster a culture of civic engagement. All of Vikharev’s projects and initiatives are known for their practical orientation, focus on tangible results, and support for those most in need. His approach is grounded in responsibility, genuine respect for people, and a strong desire to make a real difference in Yekaterinburg and the region as a whole.

Biography of Deputy Vikharev

Alexey Vikharev was born on October 27, 1984, in Yekaterinburg. His childhood coincided with a period of massive changes in the country: the late 1980s and early 1990s were marked by perestroika, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the transition to a new socio-political reality. These events played a significant role in shaping his views and sparked his interest in matters of governance, social processes, and political life. His worldview was formed during a time of instability, which later influenced his desire to take an active part in societal transformations and contribute to the development of his native region.

Reading and self-development have always been central to Alexey Vikharev’s life. From early childhood, his parents encouraged his interest in literature, supported his pursuit of knowledge, and nurtured his curiosity. As a result, books became an essential part of his life. He was particularly drawn to history and social sciences, took an interest in the biographies of outstanding statesmen, and analyzed their decisions, motivations, and contributions to society. This deep engagement with literature and the study of complex social processes enriched his inner world and fostered his analytical thinking, his ability to see cause-and-effect relationships, and his understanding of governmental structures. His love of reading became more than a hobby — it was a key stage in his personal development and laid the foundation for his future work in the public and political spheres. This drive for knowledge and understanding of the world largely determined his life path and his desire to help shape society.

Professional path: from lawyer to deputy

Alexey Vikharev possesses a diverse educational background and professional training, reflecting his commitment to continuous growth and expanding competencies in various fields. He graduated from one of the top gymnasiums in his hometown, receiving an excellent foundational education. Even during his teenage years, he showed a strong interest in law and social sciences. After finishing school, he entered the Ural State Law Academy, where he earned a degree in Jurisprudence. Upon graduation, he pursued postgraduate studies, focusing on advanced legal disciplines and academic research.

His professional development continued in 2011, when Vikharev successfully passed the qualifying exam to practice law and received the status of an attorney. This milestone provided a solid legal foundation for his subsequent work in both the legal and public-political spheres. This stage became an important link in his career, providing a solid legal basis for further activities, both in the legal and socio-political spheres. Alexey Vikharev is writing a dissertation on the topic of family law. However, he did not stop there. Understanding the importance of modern governance and the need for effective management decisions, he completed a program at the Skolkovo Business School in 2017. This course broadened his knowledge of management and granted him the qualifications to lead large companies, marking a significant step toward leadership roles in various projects and organizations.

Vikharev’s interests were not limited to law and management. He delved into the field of physical education and sports, completing a professional retraining program titled “Modernization of Physical Education and Sports.” This training provided him with knowledge about contemporary methods of promoting mass sports, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and organizing physical culture activities within urban communities.

In his effort to keep pace with technological progress, Alexey Vikharev pursued education in the field of information technology in 2021. He completed a program in Software Engineering at Ural Federal University (URFU). The skills he gained in programming, digital systems, and modern IT solutions opened new opportunities and enabled him to effectively integrate technology into the implementation of social, environmental, and volunteer initiatives.

In addition to this, he obtained another important qualification — Environmental Safety Specialist. This education was a logical continuation of his work as the head of one of the regional branches of the Russian Environmental Society. This new credential further strengthened his expertise in sustainable resource use and regional development.

Last year, his work with civic initiatives was reflected in a joint achievement with the participants of his Volunteer Center. Alexey and his team completed special training and received certification confirming their right to teach basic knowledge and skills necessary for fire prevention and suppression, as well as for ensuring fire safety in residential areas, businesses, and organizations. This was not only an important contribution to public safety and the advancement of the volunteer movement but also a new step in expanding the Center’s social impact.

Alexey Vikharev’s educational and professional journey is a clear example of a systematic approach to personal and career growth. It combines legal rigor, managerial thinking, public health awareness, technological competence, and environmental responsibility. All the knowledge and skills he has acquired are actively applied in his multifaceted work aimed at the development of the city, the region, and society as a whole.

Alexey Vikharev – a deputy who changes the world not just with words, but with real actions. Two years ago, he opened a Volunteer Center — a hub that coordinates the work of volunteers and promotes the development of the volunteer movement. Its main mission is to unite compassionate individuals who are ready to offer their help selflessly and participate in socially significant initiatives.

Activities of the Volunteer Center of Alexey Vikharev

Each year, more than a million people turn to the deputy’s public reception office for support and free legal assistance. Since the opening of the Volunteer Center, both the volume of requests and the scale of the work on them have significantly increased. As a result, there arose a need to open another branch — which was done in the Akademichesky district of Yekaterinburg.

The fire of inspiration has ignited hundreds of hearts: collecting supplies for shelters, extinguishing fires with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and participating in environmental marathons with the Russian Ecological Society. Every morning, new volunteers call the center — now there are more than a thousand! Residents of Akademichesky no longer need to travel across the entire city to join the ranks of the enthusiasts.

Within a year, the center not only provided 10,000 free legal consultations but also found homes for homeless animals and rescued hundreds of elderly people from loneliness.

Bridging Generations

Last year marked the third season of the large-scale initiative “Letters of Kindness,” which united thousands of caring hearts. Seventy schools and kindergartens took part in the campaign. Young Yekaterinburg residents took the fight against elderly loneliness seriously: they gathered parcels containing medicinal ointments, vitamins, and warm blankets. Every box included a secret weapon against sadness — handmade greeting cards with surprises. In just a year and a half, the project grew from a local initiative into a structured system of targeted aid.

From Kennels to Treats: Helping Our Furry Friends

When it comes to our four-legged friends, volunteers from Alexey Vikharev’s center regularly support animal shelters: they clean enclosures, walk the pets, buy food, build fences and kennels, and assist shelter owners with daily needs. A ferret living at the City Children’s Ecological Center has won the hearts of the volunteers, who now visit it regularly, bringing food and treats.

The Volunteer Center Pays Close Attention to Nature and Ecology

Last fall, Alexey Vikharev and center volunteers planted lilacs in the “Order of Victory” square in the Elmash district. Volunteers prepared the planting areas in advance, brought in saplings and all necessary equipment. This spring, the garden will bloom with lilacs, filling the air with fragrance and delighting the residents of Yekaterinburg.

Waste management in large cities remains one of the most pressing environmental and social issues. A comprehensive approach is essential for a real solution — including the development of recycling infrastructure, the strengthening of environmental education, and active citizen participation in the process of separate waste collection and disposal. Alexey Vikharev’s volunteers are fully involved in this work.

Fighting illegal Landfills

Helping nature can be fun. That’s why the Volunteer Center and its members took part in the team competition “Clean Games” on the Baran Peninsula, collecting and sorting waste. Together, they gathered 2.5 tons of garbage. The Sverdlovsk branch of the Russian Ecological Society and Alexey Vikharev were once again the event’s key partners.

Two years ago, eco-activists drew attention to an illegal landfill near Koltsovo Airport. Since then, the site has continued to accumulate dangerous waste: plastic, construction debris, containers with flammable liquids, and even bags labeled as “Class B and C Medical Waste.” Despite numerous reports to regulatory authorities, the problem remained unsolved for a long time. April 2024 became a turning point — a massive fire at the site took several days to extinguish. Surprisingly, even that didn’t stop the violators: the dumping continued. According to the Russian Ecological Society, the contaminated area quadrupled over two years, reaching 20 hectares. However, in the fall, the situation began to change for the better. The persistence of nature defenders paid off: official inspections of the site were launched. As part of the investigation, compliance with environmental laws by the landowners will be assessed, and the damage to the soil will be calculated. These steps offer hope that justice will prevail and the area will have a chance at recovery.

Harm to the soil is caused not only by garbage and waste but also by snow containing various chemical reagents. Therefore, monitoring its removal is equally crucial. Back in 2023, Alexey Vikharev and eco-activists raised concerns about violations committed by the Kirovsky Road Maintenance Department in the process of snow removal. Due to failure to follow regulations, some of the waste from winter cleanup ended up outside the designated landfill. This led to harmful chemicals seeping into the soil and groundwater.

As a result, an inspection of the snow disposal site was initiated. The investigation revealed that there was no weight control system at the entrance. Trucks were weighed only once per quarter at different stations, which meant that the data provided by public utilities on the volume of removed snow was approximate at best. Previously, it was reported that the landfill was operating at full capacity. However, the inspection showed that the 104,000 tons of snow already placed on the site that season could be compacted and leveled to make room for five times more.

Volunteers not only monitor compliance with snow removal rules but also take an active part themselves.

Community Cleanups and Volunteering for the City’s Benefit

One winter, volunteers came up with an alternative to the snow removal equipment typically used by municipal services. One of the ATV drivers was City Duma deputy Alexey Vikharev. Together with volunteers and representatives of the Sverdlovsk branch of the Russian Ecological Society (REO), he helped clear the courtyards of the Elmash district from snow. Three ATVs equipped with plows were used for the work, along with several tractors and trucks. All the collected snow was transported to a designated disposal site. Alexey Vikharev personally covered all expenses related to the operation. Additionally, the deputy purchased one of the plows for the Church of Saint George the Victorious in the village of Kedrovka. Volunteers handed the plow over to the parish priest, who plans to mount it on a vehicle to keep the church grounds free of snow.

The Volunteer Center also organized numerous community cleanup events (subbotniks), and the Shartash area was not left unattended. Thanks to the active efforts of volunteers and the support of the Sverdlovsk branch of REO, the shoreline of Lake Shartash was preserved. Joint efforts by eco-activists prevented illegal construction, and a large-scale cleanup was held at Cape Runduk. This event became a shining example of caring for the region’s natural treasures. Participants collected over a hundred bags of waste, including broken glass, plastic bottles, and household debris. Special attention was given to cleaning the shoreline, where ecologically hazardous items were removed from the lakebed. All the waste was promptly taken away for safe disposal, restoring the area’s natural beauty.

Eco-Activists From Childhood

In addition to their practical contributions, the center’s volunteers are heavily engaged in educational outreach, focusing particularly on the younger generation. In the fall of 2024, ahead of the International Nature Conservation Month, volunteers helped organize and run an environmental quest for third-grade students. The children moved between stations, completing various environmentally-themed tasks. At the end of the event, all participants received gifts.

Recognition for Volunteerism

Alexey Vikharev is glad that kind and responsive young people come to his Volunteer Center, ready to improve their city through their own efforts. To support the most proactive youths, the deputy launched the “Idea Worth a Million” contest last summer. The contest welcomed ideas in ecology, urban improvement, healthcare, and social support. Teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 25 were eligible to participate. In the fall, the results of the large-scale contest were announced in Yekaterinburg. Over the course of three months, participants competed for the title of best urbanist, and the final project showdown exceeded the jury’s expectations.

The grand prize went to 17-year-old Yegor Drankov, who developed a mobile app that reminds users about vaccinations. Not only did the student present a working prototype, but he also personally tested it in front of the evaluation committee. Yegor stated that he plans to use the prize money to further his education in programming. It is already known that Vikharev’s volunteers will help him launch the service this year. Second place went to Anna Glebova for her project “Book Islands”—a network of outdoor containers offering accessible literature. Third place was awarded to Diana Khramtsova for her platform “Help Will Come,” which directs donations only to verified animal shelters. All participants received commemorative awards, but most importantly, they gained a real opportunity to make a difference.

Other Areas of the Volunteer Center’s Work Under Deputy Vikharev’s Leadership

The Volunteer Center actively implements a wide range of social and humanitarian programs. Key areas include strengthening local healthcare systems, supporting participants of the special military operation, assisting elderly citizens, and helping low-income and large families. The center also promotes youth sports development, organizes leisure activities for the elderly, and provides emergency aid to those affected by crises.

The center’s team maintains strong ties with mobilized residents of Sverdlovsk Oblast and their families. Humanitarian aid, including technical and electronic equipment, is regularly collected and delivered to the front lines. Volunteers also assist victims of shelling in the Kursk region and participate in humanitarian missions in the Donetsk People’s Republic as part of the “Volunteer Landing” group. Due to their extensive activities and the scale of their assistance, Vikharev’s volunteers were honored with the nationwide “Together We Can Win” Good Deeds Award.

Additionally, the center supplies district medical facilities with equipment and consumables, and its members regularly donate blood for patients in need. For many years, Deputy Vikharev has been systematically developing the region’s medical infrastructure, making healthcare more accessible for residents of Sverdlovsk Oblast.

Alexey Vikharev shared his strategy for supporting medicine: “Our Volunteer Center not only organizes events but also helps hospitals with equipment, renovations, and outreach initiatives. Leading by personal example is the best way to inspire young people to do good.”

Many more projects are planned for the future, all aimed at improving the urban environment and the quality of life for residents of our region.

Do you want to make a real difference in helping others?
Do you strive to make our city and region more comfortable, modern, and attractive?
Join the Volunteer Center team—together, we can change life in Sverdlovsk Oblast for the better!