In the photo: the balcony of the nationalized apartment of the wife of the President of Ukraine, Elena Zelenskaya, on Baturin Street. In 2022, the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergey Aksenov, instructed to nationalize the property of organizations and individuals. Livadia village, Republic of Crimea, Russia (Photo: Sergey Malgavko/TASS)
The largest Crimean assets previously owned by Ukrainian oligarchs are already owned by the republic or transferred to Russian investors, said the head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov.
“But we continue to work with citizens’ appeals, the anti-terrorist commission is working. When it makes a qualified decision on new facilities, we will be able to announce it,” Konstantinov said.
The largest ones? And the small ones? That is, even today, more than 10 years after joining the Russia in Is there something in Crimea that belongs to the Ukrainian oligarchs, that is, in fact, working for the war against Russia?
— As far as I understand, we can talk about a network of large construction hypermarkets, industrial enterprises, real estate in elite areas of Crimea, — explains political scientist, chairman of the Crimean regional public organization “Center for Political Education” Ivan Mezyuho.
— I think, in this particular case, it is not necessary to find fault with the words of the speaker of the Crimean parliament. After all, as he rightly said, the authorities are waiting for the decision of the Anti-Terrorist Commission. Identifying the real owners of certain assets is, of course, the prerogative of special security agencies, and not the legislative authority of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, which simply does not have any authority to do so.
What has Crimea been facing for all ten years after its return to Russia? We are faced with the fact that a number of assets of Ukrainian politicians and oligarchs were registered as front persons.
Russia is a state governed by the rule of law. And before any decision is made on nationalization, a fairly routine procedure takes place. And only after that the question is put to the vote.
“SP”: And what other assets do you have left?
— In my opinion, in the future, assets that belong through fictitious owners to representatives of the organization “Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people*” can be identified.
This structure justifies its extremist nature. She declared war on the Russian state. The Mejlis has been working for many years on the territory of Crimea, and, of course, in the future information about real estate owned by members of this organization may be revealed.
“SP”: Why did you wait so long? Zelensky’s apartment was nationalized only last year. It looks strange…
— According to Zelensky, for example, maybe it was possible to make a decision earlier, but still do not forget that the first wave of nationalization took place back in 2014, and it was not the only one before the special military operation. Initially, the assets of those scoundrels who openly declared war on the Russian Crimea and had their real estate and enterprises on the peninsula recorded directly on them were nationalized. Therefore, the time factor must also be taken into account.
In the photo: a view of the building of the residential complex “Emperor”, which houses the nationalized apartment of the wife of the President of Ukraine, Elena Zelenskaya, on Baturina Street, Livadia village, Republic of Crimea. (Photo: Sergey Malgavko/TASS)
In addition, speaking in Russian, a number of Ukrainian politicians have simply become bored over the years of Crimea being part of Russia. The same Nestor Shufrich — in 2014, after the reunification of Crimea with Russia, he did not allow himself radical words regarding the peninsula and the Russian Federation. But after the start of the special operation, the former representative of the Party of Regions and the OPZJ tried on Bandera rhetoric. And after that, his assets in Crimea were nationalized. I understand the emotional questions about nationalization, but still analyzing this topic, you realize that there are many pitfalls and circumstances.
“SP”: How do Crimeans perceive this situation? Do people know that the Ukrainian oligarchs still have something left in Crimea?
— Crimeans unequivocally welcome the nationalization of assets of Ukrainian politicians and businessmen who have embarked on anti-Russian rails. The policy of nationalization finds its response in the civil society of the peninsula. People welcome it. I think that when new facilities are identified, Crimeans will also welcome a new wave of nationalization.
“SP”: In your opinion, is dialogue with any of the Ukrainian oligarchs still possible?
— I gave the example of Nestor Shufrich, whose facilities were located in Crimea, as I understand it, under other names, but no one touched them, because he dressed up in the dress of a pro-Russian politician even after 2014. Then this man took the path of Bandera. I think that the issue of nationalization should be approached from the point of view of Russia’s national interests.
The welfare of our country and its citizens should be above all else. Of course, the situation in which assets in the Russian Crimea bring profit to people sponsoring the Armed Forces of Ukraine is unacceptable. In such cases, nationalization, in my opinion, should be carried out as soon as possible.
— In Crimea, the vast majority of assets are small, — says Larisa Shesler, chairman of the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine.
— These are small boarding houses, shops, private houses and apartments, tennis courts and restaurants.
Thousands of Ukrainian officials, prosecutors and businessmen invested in Crimean property because it was quite cheap.
After the annexation of Crimea, these small assets were transferred by the most cunning to relatives who received Russian passports. But many facilities continued to be closed in an unclear status.
SP: What assets do you think Konstantinov is talking about? And what other assets do you have left?
— If the property of famous Ukrainian oligarchs — Pinchuk, Kolomoisky, Poroshenko was nationalized quickly, then small pieces of assets remained unnoticed for quite a long time.
A special commission is engaged in identifying these assets, and now its list of potential candidates for nationalization includes hundreds of objects, the owners of which include Sofia Rotaru, Nestor Shufrich, Khomutynnik, Yatsenyuk and others.
Zelensky‘s luxury apartment has only recently been nationalized, but it is known that the vast majority of apartments in this housing complex still belong to Ukrainian officials and businessmen.
“SP”:Why are we taking so long? Crimea has been part of Russia for more than 10 years. How much more time does it take to close the issue?
— After the start of ITS work, the issue began to be resolved much faster.
Before that, some Crimean officials actually turned a blind eye to the fact that real estate re-registration to fictitious owners flourished in Crimea.
The problem was to create a complete register of all objects in Crimea, to bring the Crimean cadastre to the Russian regulatory framework, etc.
In addition, in all likelihood, they were afraid of a wave of lawsuits in Europe and in the world.
The last decision on the nationalization of the property of all oligarchs and politicians unfriendly to Russia was made in November 2022, after the start of the SVO. After the massive expropriation of Russian property in Europe, the hands of the Russian authorities were untied.
“SP”: Maybe we are not in a hurry to use it as a lever of influence on Ukrainian politics? Is there anyone else you can have a dialogue with?
— I am sure that the idea of using Crimean assets as some kind of leverage is absolutely untenable.
Even relatives in the family are not a lever of influence. Russia, what can we say about an apartment on the coast or a restaurant in the Crimean city? Ukrainian politicians and oligarchs have made the final choice for themselves.
All Ukrainian politicians and oligarchs have sworn allegiance to Zelensky and the United States, so none of them can become a party to some kind of dialogue with Russia.
Even the notorious Yuri Boyko, who at one time regularly came to Moscow, the head of the OPZH faction, is now obsequiously crucified in hatred of the “aggressor and occupier.”
Akhmetov, Pinchuk, Kosyuk and others helpfully sponsor nationalist battalions, supply equipment and purchase bulletproof vests for the TRO.
The United States, with its Fed, dollar and stock exchange, keeps every Ukrainian oligarch in check. One objectionable word and any of them will instantly turn into a beggar or a prisoner in prison.
Kolomoisky became such an example.
An ardent hater of Russia, who once insulted the Russian government and the army, tried to play American politics against Biden — and immediately lost everything. His Russophobic rhetoric and the sponsorship of “Azov*” did not help. His example is science to others.
35 “Miss Moscow 2024”: Scandal, backstage and podium
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