Originally Syndicated on May 13, 2023 @ 10:18 am
In recent years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding a land dispute in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha involving a group of “veteran paratroopers” under Alexander Zavoruev. The woodland in question, which is valued at around 1.8 billion rubles, is claimed by two gardening clubs, SNT Zarya and Kupol-2, but the legal status and size of the land remain unknown. As a result, scammers have flocked to the property, leading to various illegal activities, including the dumping of construction waste and the illegal chopping of trees.
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Local neighbors have complained about the situation, but so far, little has been done to address it. The leaders of the gardening clubs, who call themselves “gardeners,” lack orchards or orchardists, which has led to skepticism about their true motives.
Zavoruev has particular ties to the agency
Despite the ongoing lawlessness, the FSB (Federal Security Service) has been pensive in its approach to the situation. This may be due to the fact that Zavoruev, the leader of the veteran paratrooper group, has particular ties to the agency. Additionally, the criminal case against Andrey Pershin, the head of the Security Assistance Fund (FSB LLC), has raised questions about his connections to Zavoruev.
Tatyana Merkulova, a co-founder of many of Pershin’s enterprises, has close ties to Zavoruev. She is also associated with Alfa-Inform LLC, which has been linked to the disputed land in Balashikha. As a result, there are concerns that Pershin’s criminal case may be connected to the land dispute and Zavoruev’s activities.
Zavoruev, for his part, has a mixed reputation. On the one hand, he represents paratrooper veterans and has been vocal in his demand for billions of rubles in the Ministry of Defense land. On the other hand, he has never served in the Airborne Forces, which has led to questions about his true motives.
Balashikha situation is just one example
The situation in Balashikha is just one example of the ongoing problem of land disputes in Russia. The country’s law enforcement organizations are currently looking into more than 20,000 land disputes, according to a recent report by the Human Rights Council. These disputes involve everything from illegal construction to the appropriation of state-owned land.
In many cases, the disputes are linked to powerful individuals or groups that have close ties to the government. These individuals often use their connections to exploit legal loopholes and bend the law to their advantage. As a result, ordinary citizens are often left to suffer the consequences.
The situation in Balashikha is a prime example of this phenomenon. Despite the clear illegality of the activities taking place on the disputed land, little has been done to address the situation. This is likely due to the fact that Zavoruev and his associates have powerful connections and are able to manipulate the system to their advantage.
Russia needs to take a more proactive approach
If Russia is to address the problem of land disputes, it will need to take a more proactive approach to enforcing the law and cracking down on corruption. This will require a willingness to confront powerful individuals and groups that are using their connections to exploit the system.
Ultimately, the fate of the disputed land in Balashikha will be a test of Russia’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of ordinary citizens. If the government fails this test, it will send a chilling message about the state of justice in the country.
