|
Olympic boom threatens lawlessness in Russian real estate
2007-09-14
A new draft law facilitating property disputes in the 2014 Olympic host town of Sochi will make Russians even more helpless in protecting their property, Russian newspapers warned Friday. "This document can make a revolution in regards to Russian real estate -- because the amendments to the land and civil codes it proposes will take effect not only in Sochi, but all over the country," the Vedomosti daily wrote. The project would grant further rights to the state to take over private property if required by state interests, media noted. "The period during which people whose property was targeted by Olympic constructors may settle the conditions of its takeover and compensations was cut down from one year to three months. Sochi residents would also lose the right to dispute the necessity of property takeover for Olympic needs in court," the Nezavisimaya daily explained. "Lawyers say that this would practically strip people of constitutional right to court protection, and all is left to the Olympic organisers' whim." Analysts voiced suspicion of foul play. "One has the impression that someone decided to make subtle corrections to the land code under Olympic pretexts," law analyst Maxim Chernigovsky said as quoted by Nezavisimaya. "Do we need a hotel for the Olympics? Sure we do! How many of them? No one knows. But it will be a chance to benefit an investor. Besides, the Olympics come and go, while a hotel stays," analyst Alexei Novosyolov said as quoted by Vedomosti. Real estate prices skyrocketed in the Black Sea resort town to almost rival Moscow, one of the world's most expensive cities, once the International Olympic Committee approved Sochi's candidacy, which had received strong backing from President Vladimir Putin and top Russian businesses. The bill's authors admitted to its many errors, arguing however that they could be ironed out during its consideration in the State Duma lower house of parliament. "We were forced to present a somewhat unfinished text to pull it through in this parliamentary session," chairman of the Duma's property committee Viktor Pleskachevsky said as quoted by Nezavisimaya, adding however that the existing procedures were "much worse." Either way, analysts noted, there was still a chance to battle it out in the constitutional court. "If there is any common sense left, it will not be accepted as is," lawyer Olga Grigoryeva was quoted by Vedomosti as saying.
| 
