Kirov is a city located in the European part of Russia on the Vyatka River. It had the same name as the river for a very long time, however, when the Soviets seized power in Russia its name was changed to commemorate Sergei Kirov – one of the leaders of the communist movement. Interestingly, in the referendum held in 1993 the inhabitants of the city rejected the offer to return to the old name and expressed their willingness to stay with the Soviet name of the city. The city developed rapidly during the reign of Tsarina Catherine the Great, who made it the capital of the governorate. Currently, Kirov is an important station on the Trans-Siberian railway route and the river port.
