"People are treated like cattle." Residents of Volgograd's Stalin-era buildings defended their right to stay in court.
Krasnooktyabrsky Court Volgograd has begun rejecting lawsuits filed by the city administration seeking the forced eviction of residents of sturdy Stalin-era buildings. The cases in question concerned resettlement from buildings on Volzhsky Prospekt and Pribaltiyskaya Street.
A resident of house No. 1 on Pribaltiyskaya Street Vera Zavidova She explained that the old houses are located in a historic area. They were built in 1949 according to classic French courtyard designs.
"The residents themselves have maintained their homes and yard their entire lives. Overall, our buildings are hardly in disrepair. There are no cracks, and the staircases are intact. Our buildings require proper attention and care, but certainly not demolition." clarified she is.
In 2015, the building was finally declared unsafe and in need of renovation. However, officials decided to relocate the residents permanently, not temporarily, to houses on the outskirts of the city built on a swamp. The residents filed a refusal, which was upheld by the court.
According to the lawyer Roman Grebennikov, the very principle of resettlement of people has been violated - new housing must be equivalent to the old one, and the move must take place with the voluntary consent of the residents.
"Did anyone ask people if they'd move into these apartments in the swamps? They were simply presented with a fait accompli. 'At least build a road there. Build the infrastructure.' They treat people like cattle and rabble. 'They'll never go away, we'll force them.'" — the lawyer said.
NotMoscow told There's talk of Volgograd residents being forced to relocate to the "Na Matrosova" residential complex, which is built in a flooded pit and lacks infrastructure. Bastrykin has taken control of the situation, but it's unclear whether this has changed the situation for the new residents.
Photo: Alexey Volkhonsky
