"Turn back time": residents of Tatarstan request a referendum on the time zone

      Residents of the republic are tired of early dawns and dark evenings. Under the posts of Rustam Minnikhanov, requests are multiplying to hold a referendum on changing the time zone. People want to live "like before" — with the sun at its zenith at true noon.

      Residents of Tatarstan are asking Minnikhanov to hold a referendum on changing the time zone.

      In Tatarstan, discussions about changing the clocks have resurfaced. The reason is the numerous complaints from residents about the inconvenient daily schedule. In summer, dawn breaks in at three in the morning, and in winter, it gets dark too quickly, making it difficult to get home from work.

      What is wrong with the time in Tatarstan?

      Currently, the republic operates on Moscow time (UTC+3). However, geographically, Kazan is located much further east than the capital. Because of this, astronomical noon occurs almost in the middle of the day, rather than at 12:00, as it ideally should. This discrepancy is what throws many residents off balance. In the comments under the posts of the republic's head, Rustam Minnikhanov, activists leave dozens of appeals. People are asking not just to discuss the problem but to put it to a referendum.

      Most of the dissatisfied are in favor of moving the clocks one hour forward. On social media, there are suggestions to return to the "old time" (UTC+4), when evenings were brighter, and the rays of the rising sun did not disturb sleep in the summer. Supporters of the time zone change are confident that it will improve well-being, save electricity, and make leisure time after work more fulfilling.

      So far, there has been no official response from the authorities. But the intensity of the discussion is growing every day — especially with the approach of the season of the earliest and shortest nights.

      Yulia Kazamarova

      More news about the event:

      "Turn back time": Tatarstan residents are asking for a referendum on the time zone.

      Residents of the republic are tired of early dawns and dark evenings. Under the posts of Rustam Minnikhanov, requests are multiplying to hold a referendum on changing the time zone. 19:26 25.05.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      "Turn back time": Tatarstan residents are asking for a referendum on the time zone.

      Residents of the republic are tired of early dawns and dark evenings. Under the posts of Rustam Minnikhanov, requests are multiplying to hold a referendum on changing the time zone. 19:16 25.05.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      In summer, dawn at three in the morning, and it gets dark too early in the evening: discussions about a possible time change have flared up again in Tatarstan. 12:05 25.05.2026 MosRegToday.Ru - Moscow Region