Sochi: residents of dilapidated houses demand new apartments

On May 26, residents of dilapidated houses held a meeting in front of a burnt-down 12-apartment house in Perelyotnaya Street. The meeting was attended by about 50 people, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports. The authorities were to resettle the residents of the dilapidated houses in Sochi until 2011, but they failed to do it, claim the participants of the meeting.

According to the residents, more than 20 years ago, 12 temporary two-storey houses with 12 apartments in each were built in Perelyotnaya and Cossack Streets. The houses were to accommodate people for a period of five years.

At present, more than 100 people live in dilapidated houses. "Houses were constructed as manoeuvrable fund for Sochi residents, affected by landslides, floods, and fires. The authorities failed to fulfil the promises to resettle the people from the houses until 2011," said Anghelina Chakryan, a resident of the burnt-down house, who organized the meeting.

Ekaterina Potekhina, a widow and a mother of many children, living in a house in Perelyotnaya Street since 1995, says that the authorities intend to move her and her family members to a house, not put into operation. It is located 60 km from the place of the woman's permanent residence and job. According to the woman, an apartment of 25 square meters was allocated for seven persons.

Alexander Lobyshev, a resident of the house No. 1 in Perelyotnaya Street, claims that the house constructed as temporary housing does not exist on the map and that "no one is going to resettle the people."

"We filed appeals to a lot of the public agencies, but the reaction followed. Our houses were built as temporary housing. However, we stayed here for many years. And no one is going to resettle us, although they attached notice plates to the houses with indication that we will be resettled until 2011," said Alexander Lobyshev.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.