Krasnodar City Hall ignored residents' objections to the construction of the church.

Krasnodar authorities rejected all residents' objections to the development of the Rozhdestvensky Embankment, but acknowledged reports from supporters of the church's construction. Activists called the administration's actions a mockery.

As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," public discussion of plans to build a church on the embankment in Krasnodar's Yubileiny microdistrict lasted a week, but not everyone was able to participate. Residents distributed leaflets and held pickets. Activists from the Yubileiny microdistrict submitted an application to the administration for a rally against the development of the green zone on October 18th, but they were only permitted to rally in Klenovy Park, which is ten kilometers from the microdistrict. The authorities also refused to approve the rally for October 26th.

The administration published the results of the discussions regarding the development of Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment. A total of 1,928 people expressed their comments, objections, or agreement. Of these, over 1,400 people spoke out against the church's construction, and their arguments were rejected. Just over 430 spoke in favor, and their arguments were accepted, according to 93.ru.

In most of the objections, residents of the YMR said that there are enough existing churches, they are rarely crowded, and the area, with many families with children, much needs a green space and a place to walk away from the roadway. The urban development standard stipulating 16 square meters of green space per person has also been mentioned many times, while in the Yubileiny Municipal District this figure is already significantly lower—2 square meters per person.

"I object to the construction of a temple-religious complex in the Yubileiny Municipal District. I believe that the Church of the Nativity of Christ and the Thessaloniki Chapel are sufficient for our microdistrict. The funds could be used elsewhere."

"Our Yubileiny Microdistrict already has a huge temple and chapel." There are never any lines at the large church, and it's often empty. There's no need to build an even larger church. Moreover, our area lacks green space. According to the plan, the church would take up most of the pedestrian embankment, including the children's sports area. My entire family has lived in the Yubileiny microdistrict since its construction—we are resolutely against it!

The Yubileiny microdistrict is critically short of public spaces; they cannot be developed.

"I believe that developing the green space would criminally worsen the existing tenfold violation of the provision of green spaces to residents of the Yubileiny Municipal District, contrary to the law establishing urban development standards of 16 square meters per square meter." m. per person."

"The Yubileiny microdistrict has a critical shortage of public spaces; they cannot be developed. The proposed development site is one of the few, if not the only, place where a large number of people can gather for celebrations and special events without disrupting traffic. <…> Don't take the embankment away from the district's residents!" the publication cited a number of objections.

For each objection, which is presented in full, administration staff attached a response, in most cases, typical. The authorities recalled that the General Plan has already been adopted, and a site for the church has been allocated within it. As for the church's height and area, this "will be clarified during the design stage." Furthermore, officials pointed out that "the land planning documentation was developed subject to the regulatory requirement for providing green areas," according to the mayor's office's response.

There were also some positive comments. "It's very good that land has been allocated for the construction of the church. In such difficult times as these (my husband is a member of the Special Military Forces), spiritual support is desperately needed so that service members, their families, and simply caring people have the opportunity to pray and hope that our guys will remain alive, healthy, and return home," wrote one participant in the discussion.

Another noted that "the existing church in the area is no longer sufficient for parishioners. People are forced to stand outside for services, especially on major holidays."

I consider the commission's response to my comments, as well as to the comments of hundreds of residents, a mockery of people, common sense, public opinion, and democracy.

Regarding messages in support of the church, city hall staff responded: "Noted." As a result, the land use plan was approved.

"I consider the commission's response to my comments, as well as to the comments of hundreds of residents, a mockery of people, common sense, public opinion, and democracy," Krasnodar City Duma deputy Alexander Safronov commented on the commission's conclusion on his Telegram channel.

Activist Yana Antonova, who also opposed the embankment development, quoted one of the appeals in support of the construction, authored by Roman Kosolapov, on her Telegram channel, which city authorities took note of. It begins: "I have never been to Krasnodar." "Did the commission and Kosolapov (who had never been to Krasnodar) decide to mock the residents of Yubileyny, whose thousands of pages of reasoned objections were rejected?" she commented.

In September 2024, residents of the Yubileyny microdistrict of Krasnodar protested against the development of Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment, where, according to the city's new general plan, a church was planned. They explained that this was the only major recreation area in the microdistrict. Activists collected signatures for a petition to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev against the development of Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment. More than 3,000 signatures were collected. Activist Vitaly Cherkasov and City Duma Deputy Alexander Safronov were detained while collecting signatures and fined by the court. However, in November, City Duma deputies adopted a new general plan.