Unlawful Structures Slated for Destruction
In the coastal city of Sochi and the neighbouring region of Krasnodar, ongoing efforts are being made to address the issue of unauthorised constructions and the legal actions taken against them.
**Sochi**
As of July 1, 2025, a total of 105 unauthorised structures have been demolished across Sochi. Further plans are underway to remove more illegal constructions in areas like Matsesta and on Krymskaya Street. However, there are no specific details on court challenges for affected residents in Sochi available in the recent updates.
Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin has confirmed that the city administration will assist residents in preparing the required documents if there is a legal basis to challenge a case in court. The focus of the demolition projects is primarily on commercial premises, unfinished, and derelict buildings.
**Krasnodar**
A significant issue in Krasnodar involves the demolition of unauthorised religious structures. A two-story house on a garden plot used as a prayer house was recognised as an unauthorised construction by the Prikubansky District Court on December 12, 2023. The administration's claim for its demolition was satisfied, and the house was closed after enforcement proceedings.
This decision has left Muslims in Krasnodar without a proper place for prayer, forcing them to pray in public spaces like cafes and gas stations. There is a fear of further closures and legal actions against existing prayer houses if residents speak out.
The city of Krasnodar's Bailiff Service is managing 704 enforcement proceedings related to the demolition of illegally constructed properties, but no new information was provided about the number of properties demolished in Krasnodar.
For updates on the demolition process, residents can refer to Telegram, VKontakte, "Classmates", and YouTube.
- In the context of ongoing efforts to address unauthorized constructions, there is growing concern in Sochi's environmental-science community about the potential impacts on the local ecosystem, as many of these illegally built structures have been located near sensitive wildlife habitats.
- Meanwhile, political discussions in the general-news sphere focus on the seemingly biased approach towards unauthorized religious structures, such as the case in Krasnodar, which raises questions about religious freedom and potential interference from political interests in environmental-science decisions.
