In Sochi, Imereti residents protest against sums for their real estate

The residents of the Imereti Lowland (Sochi, Krasnodar Territory), whose houses are within the Olympic construction zone, have held a rally in protest against a significant decrease of the earlier declared prices on their bought-out real estate, and against the absence of reliable and timely information about their forthcoming resettlement.

On December 6, the  Imereti residents demanded to stop the asphalt-concrete factory, built in violation of sanitary norms, just 30 meters off their apartment houses, and operated all day and night. Eventually, Sochi residents demanded respectful attitude of the city, regional and federal authorities.

The rally in the Imereti Lowland brought together about 380 local residents, whose houses occurred within the Olympic construction zone. The appraisal of the real estate withdrawn from the citizens, held under the order of the State Corporation "Olympstroy" and the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, two months ago was revised and dropped almost four times against the initially proclaimed values.

Victor Pryadein, first vice-president of the "Olympstroy", shared the anxiety of the locals, saying that the property appraisal was held three times. However, until now there is no united appraisal methodology. "We reported the problem to the Government; and they ordered to draft the uniform appraisal system," said Mr Pryadein.

The Imereti residents insist that they are "categorically against compulsory withdrawal of their land plots and demolition of their households." "We'll never leave the land that we inherited from our great- and grandparents," they assert.

Among other things, in their resolution, local residents expressed their distrust to Alexander Tkachov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory; they demanded his immediate resignation and transfer of the city of Sochi under the federal control.