As reported by the Ukrainian media, the new owners did not want to preserve the building, which was associated with the satirist known for his hostile statements about Ukraine and support for Russian aggression.
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M. Zadornov acquired this real estate in Jūrmala back in 1990. He spent a lot of time there, receiving journalists, friends, and representatives of the Russian entertainment world. The house had ten rooms, including three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a fireplace.
After Michail’s death in 2017, the real estate was inherited by his first wife, Velta Zadornova. Initially, the house was rented out, and later sold.
After acquiring the plot, the new owners applied to the city council for permission to demolish the building. The new house project was coordinated with the Latvian National Cultural Heritage Board, as the site is located in an area of state significance as an urban monument. Eventually, all necessary permits were obtained.
Now, in place of the former Zadornov house stands a modern luxury home, reportedly valued at about 3 million euros.
How Zadornov became one of the fiercest critics of Ukraine
Until 2014, M. Zadornov was one of Russia’s most popular humorists and performed multiple times in Ukraine. However, after the Dignity Revolution, his rhetoric changed drastically.
The satirist systematically mocked Ukrainians, Euromaidan, the Ukrainian government, and the country’s aspiration to integrate into Europe. He claimed that “Ukraine will go down in history as a nation that decided it did not want to live badly, and started living even worse,” joked about Ukraine’s desire to join the European Union, and repeatedly echoed Russian propaganda narratives about the events in Donbas.
“In Russia, Ukrainian journalists are not imprisoned, no bags are put over their heads. Although Ukrainian journalists speak about Russia much more offensively than our journalists do about Ukraine. In Ukrainian media, Putin has been compared to Hitler multiple times,” he said in one of his statements.
His words after the July 2014 crash of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 over Donbas also caused great outrage.
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During one performance, he cynically “joked” that the plane crashed because it was heavier than air, mocking the tragedy that claimed 298 lives.
Moreover, the satirist supported the illegal annexation of Crimea and signed a letter expressing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. After that, he was banned from entering Ukraine.
Unexpectedly called Zelensky before his death
A few months before his death, M. Zadornov took an unexpected step. As journalist Dmitry Gordon has recounted, the satirist asked him for Vladimir Zelensky’s phone number. At that time, Zelensky was still leading the “Kvartal 95” studio.
M. Zadornov admitted to watching the “Servant of the People” series and other “Kvartal 95” works. He wanted to personally express his admiration for the Ukrainian performer.
Later, V. Zelensky himself recalled that the call genuinely surprised him. According to him, Zadornov thanked him for his work and said he thought Zelensky had “basically already done everything.”
“I remember that moment; it was really very pleasant. He said a phrase like: ‘I want to thank you, we don’t know each other, Dima gave me your contact, and I want to thank you for what you have done, for ‘Servant of the People.’ I think you have basically already done everything.’ Of course, I was confused. It was very pleasant,” recalled the Ukrainian president.
Michail Zadornov died in November 2017 after battling a brain tumor. He was 69 years old.
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