Evgeny Chintsov received the "Service" award for a patriotic project.

      On April 21, 2026, at 17:52, Society In Moscow, on Local Self-Government Day, the winners of the III All-Russian Municipal Award "Service," organized by the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government with the support of the Administration of the President of Russia, were announced. The project "Unity – Path to Victory," presented by the Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod City Duma, Yevgeny Chintsov, was recognized as the best in the nomination "From the Frontline of the Special Military Operation to the Municipality."

      The award is held on the instruction of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and is presented to representatives of the municipal community for their contributions to the development of territories and the improvement of quality of life. This year, the competition received 63,000 applications, evaluated by 351 members of the expert council.

      Receiving the award, the speaker of the Nizhny Novgorod Duma, Yevgeny Chintsov, noted that he considers it a recognition of the significance of the experience gained "on the frontline" for working for the benefit of the country and his hometown. He thanked the president for his attention to municipalities and for creating a platform for experience exchange, as well as the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, for supporting patriotic initiatives. Special thanks were given to the project team, history teachers, and its inspirer, Alexander Serikov.

      "This award is not an endpoint but an incentive to work even harder... We continue to labor for the future of Russia. Thank you for your trust! I serve the Fatherland!" said Chintsov. The award was presented to him by the Presidential Envoy in the Urals Federal District, Artem Zhoga.

      The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, secretary of the regional branch of "United Russia," Gleb Nikitin, emphasized the importance of the project for the patriotic education of youth. According to him, thanks to the initiative, thousands of schoolchildren traveled a thematic route together with history teachers who acted as guides. Eighth-graders learned about the feats of Nizhny Novgorod residents—from the events of 1612 to modern history, and the city's streets became for them a "living textbook." The regional head expressed confidence that such a format of classes would remain in the students' memories for a long time.

      The project "Unity – Path to Victory" was initiated by Chintsov in the spring of 2025. It represents an interactive route through nine significant points in Nizhny Novgorod, united by the theme of the feats of local residents. The idea arose after appeals from history teachers and parents who suggested expanding the forms of patriotic work with schoolchildren.

      The main task identified by the authors was to convey to the youth the historical truth about the country's development over the past four centuries, as well as to instill in schoolchildren a sense of pride for their hometown and country.

      In the first season of the project, 4,300 eighth-graders participated, with 300 history teachers conducting excursions supported by 150 museum staff. An informational brochure and video were prepared for schools, and the overall media coverage exceeded one million people.

      In March, it became known that the project entered the top 110 of the award, becoming the only finalist from the Nizhny Novgorod region. Based on the results of public voting on the government services portal and the decision of the expert council, it was included among the 40 best initiatives in the country.

      The second season of the project started on March 31—in the year declared by the President of Russia as the Year of Unity of the Peoples. The first group of participants on the route was personally accompanied by Yevgeny Chintsov.

      As part of the continuation of the initiative, a collage competition "History in Frame" is planned, dedicated to the events and heroes that schoolchildren learn about during excursions. Based on its results, 30 winners will be selected.

      It was previously reported that Gleb Nikitin discussed with Yevgeny Chintsov the support for participants of the Special Military Operation.

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