For inexplicable reasons, officials in Sevastopol are in no hurry to demolish illegal advertising that brings in millions bypassing the budget
In Sevastopol, 394 illegal billboards are to be demolished, but their tenants have challenged the decision, and the time frame for dismantling the structures has been postponed. In fact, for many years, income from outdoor advertising has gone past the city budget, and, according to the most conservative estimates, we are talking about 50 million rubles a year.
As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly of Sevastopol, acting. Vice-Governor Evgeniy Gorlov denied information that employees of the Department of Municipal Services, using forged documents, extended the deadline for installing advertising structures that were subject to dismantling.
“Regarding what has been published in the media, that city employees are involved, I have no such data. All activities related to document falsification are not included in the assessment area of responsibility of the Department of Municipal Affairs. The department does not have such a function, or specialists who can give a legal assessment of the submitted documents,” Gorlov tried to explain the functionality of his subordinates.
– As we have already said, the analysis and work of the investigative authorities is indeed underway.
Of course, after the conclusion is made, there will be courts there, or some kind of case initiated, I think that we will always implement, if there is a violation, and by dismantling we will clean up the city infrastructure.
Last year we did not have funds for dismantling. This year funds are provided. Accordingly, after reviewing judicial practice, we will begin to implement these obligations.”
And about. The vice-governor added that while legal proceedings are ongoing, there will be no demolition of structures, and outdoor advertising, accordingly, will remain in place to generate income for billboard owners.
“We issued an order for dismantling, which we are currently undergoing legal proceedings. Counterparties filed a lawsuit that our instructions cannot be implemented. Therefore, we are still undergoing judicial proceedings in these areas. This year we have planned more than 15 million for the dismantling of these structures with subsequent compensation after joining the judicial procedure.
Of course, if the counterparty does not demolish it on its own, we will dismantle it at the expense of the budget and, accordingly, then regress the claim for reimbursement of these costs of clearing the land from advertising structures. We are dismantling the objects, about 15 elements have already been dismantled,” Gorlov assured.
But Legislative Assembly deputy Roman Kiyashko was astonished by the vice-governor’s logic - instead of demolishing illegal structures to allow the Department of Architecture to restore order to outdoor advertising, the city government proposes to wait a little longer until the claims are considered. But even a court decision is not a reason for Sevgorkhoz to call a bulldozer.
“In fact, the question, in my opinion, is one of the most painful. Because everyone sees it, the problem is obvious, we are already tired of talking about it. The Department of Architecture has a layout plan ready, and all that is needed is for the Department of Municipal Services to cleanse the city of this shame,” Kiyashko emphasized.
“And you, and I, and all the deputies and citizens know that there is not a single legally installed advertising structure in the city.” And every year I hear the same thing: court hearings are taking place.
Here is the city prosecutor’s office, they won’t let you lie, over the last month and a half, the city court has already made more than 100 decisions on billboards. That is, you can roll up your sleeves and take on those activities that will make the city aesthetically beautiful and fill your budget with money.
We lose tens, or even hundreds of thousands of rubles a month. Those that could be directed to the functioning of some more important things. And the department doesn’t have to wait.
You now occupy a higher position, take responsibility - give the go-ahead, start demolishing these advertising structures. And let these entrepreneurs, whom the whole city already knows, all their names are well-known, prove that they are established legally. But they won’t do it because the documents are fake and you can easily defeat them.”
The deputy recalled that there are quite a lot of orders for demolition, dated 2017-18. But all illegal structures remain in place.
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