Lawsuits to declare housing illegal become tool of political pressure in Gelendzhik

Residents of the village of Kabardinka Anna Gubanova and Anna Charochidi request investigators to check the actions of the local officials who are trying to recognize their houses as illegal buildings. The women and their families are at risk of being left on the streets after participating in the elections.

On February 26, Anna Gubanova held a picket in front of the administration of the Krasnodar Territory. The activist states that the local officials are not giving up their attempts to evict her family from the house, as they consider it to be an unauthorized construction, although all the necessary documents are available.

In September 2023, Anna Gubanova and Anna Charochidi participated in the elections to the Gelendzhik City Duma. Anna Gubanova acted as a candidate from the “Spravedlivaya Rossiya” (Fair Russia) Party, and Anna Charochidi acted as an observer at the elections. The activists said that they had recorded many violations, and therefore they filed a collective complaint to the police and the prosecutor’s office.

“Literally two days (after the elections), the Gelendzhik city administration requested documents for my house ... I believe that repressive actions are being taken against my family,” Anna Charochidi said.

Anna Gubanova expressed a similar opinion. “All our problems began after my participation in the elections as a candidate for a seat at the Gelendzhik City Duma from the ‘Spravedlivaya Rossiya’ Party,” Anna Gubanova complained.

The activist notes that the Gelendzhik officials are demanding the demolition of her house, where her children live, although the current year has been declared the Year of the Family.

Anna Gubanova believes that the activists’ complaints will not be heard in Gelendzhik, so they appeal higher. So, on their houses they hung banners calling for help from Russian President Vladimir Putin.