Cheburashka will not appear on the coat of arms of Nizhny Novgorod.

      On June 5, 2026, at 15:25, the Administration of Nizhny Novgorod did not support the idea of temporarily placing Cheburashka on the city's coat of arms. This was reported by the press service of the city hall to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod."

      Earlier, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod approached Yuri Shalabaev with a proposal to replace the deer with Cheburashka on the coat of arms in honor of the character's 60th anniversary. She noted that according to legend, Eduard Uspensky supposedly invented Cheburashka right in Nizhny Novgorod.

      The city hall thanked the author of the initiative, stating that they do not plan to change the official symbol of the city. They reminded that the coat of arms has its own centuries-old history. Its basis is the historical coat of arms of the gubernatorial Nizhny Novgorod, approved on August 16, 1781. Furthermore, the status of the coat of arms is enshrined in the city's charter.

      The red deer on the shield is not just an image. In heraldry, it symbolizes nobility, courage, and the pursuit of development. The raised front leg signifies movement forward, while the antlers represent renewal and wisdom.

      Cheburashka, by definition, is a friend, guest, and talisman, seeking his home and friends. And his "registration" can be expressed differently: through art objects, cultural events, graffiti, and more. In addition, according to information from open sources, there are copyright protections for the cartoon character, the administration emphasized.

      It should be added that Nizhny Novgorod has no direct relation to the "birth" of Cheburashka. According to a popular legend, Uspensky heard the word "cheburashka" right here. Allegedly, during a visit to the city, the daughter of his friend, trying on a coat that was too big, fell and said, "Oh, I fell again!" However, the writer himself told NN.RU in 2013 that this story did happen, but in Moscow. Later, he also learned about the existence of a similar word used by burlaks and the toy "Vanka-vstanka," which was called Cheburashka.

      It was previously reported that a court fined a Nizhny Novgorod resident for selling goods with the image of Cheburashka on a marketplace. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+