"Businessmen find it easier to pressure local officials": regions react to the adoption of the draft law on cultural heritage sites
State Duma, March 11 took The draft law on cultural heritage sites (CHS) has passed its first reading. The authority to remove buildings and territories from the register of cultural heritage sites (CHS) may now be transferred to the regional level. This threatens the disappearance of tens of thousands of monuments. Public activists have responded to the draft law.
It will become much easier to remove any cultural heritage building from the register. Currently, this can only be done by government decree.
The deputy chairman of one of the regional branches of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (VOOPIiK) believes that the law was lobbied by developers.
"These days, developers rule every city: wherever they point their finger, they're allowed to build. But heritage sites are a hindrance: either the buildings themselves are inconveniently located for construction companies, or they have protected zones. The situation is dire. Our department has written several times to both the Presidential Executive Office and the Ministry of Culture, making proposals for improving the law on the protection of monuments. But we've received exactly the opposite. Moreover, it seems the bill will definitely be passed, because some governors are already actively removing heritage sites from the register. Our ancient cities will be left without a past."“,” he said in a commentary to NeMoskva.
The Tomsk branch of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (VOOPIiK) also fears for the cultural heritage.
"If the region decides what is and isn't a monument, it will be a disaster for the country's cultural heritage."- stressed chairman Maria Bokova.
Not everyone in the State Duma was pleased with the innovation.
"Now they want to grant the right to remove properties from the register to the regions. But, firstly, we're talking about the fate of a national asset. Furthermore, it's clear that it's easier for interested businesses to pressure local officials and get the desired decision."- commented leader of the A Just Russia faction Sergey Mironov.
The Unified State Register for 2023 included 86 511 Cultural heritage sites of municipal and regional significance. If the amendments are adopted, 84,5% (more than 100) of these sites could disappear.
Photo: abandoned Gorokhov warehouses, Tomsk (Tomsky Obzor)
