In the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, Russian authorities have started confiscating land plots owned by Ukrainians without providing compensation to the former owners, Mash reports.
Previously, such properties were auctioned off, as Russian law prohibits foreigners from owning land in border areas. The proceeds from these sales were transferred to the owners.
The Moscow Times reports that under the new process, all revenue from the sale of land belonging to Ukrainians is now directed to the Russian state budget.
The confiscation is carried out following a court decision.
According to the Mash Telegram channel, at least 20 such cases are currently under consideration, including six in the Kursk region, which is partially occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
One case involves a 1,600 m² plot of land in the Belovsky district. The plaintiff is the local administration, while the defendant is a 77-year-old Ukrainian citizen, Valery Kozlitin. Additionally, 10 cases are being processed in the Belgorod region and four in the Bryansk region.
The reasons behind the Russian authorities' refusal to compensate former owners have not been specified.
Mash notes that some Ukrainians, after the forced sale of their property, announced their intention to use the proceeds to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Legal Context of Land Confiscation
The ban on foreign ownership of land in Russia's border areas is enshrined in the Land Code. Furthermore, the president has the authority to classify certain territories as "border areas" through a decree.
In 2020, Vladimir Putin used this power to designate most of Crimea’s municipalities as border areas. The decision covered 19 of Crimea’s 25 municipalities, including Yevpatoria, Kerch, Yalta, and Sudak, as well as eight out of Sevastopol’s 12 municipalities.
Under the law, foreigners must transfer their land rights within a year of the ban being introduced.
Failure to do so results in local authorities filing a lawsuit to enforce the sale of the land. The proceeds are supposed to be either transferred to the former owner or redirected to the state or municipality, with the value determined by the court.
As of April 2020, foreigners owned more than 11,500 land plots in Crimea affected by Putin's decree. Most of these plots were owned by Ukrainians, who were required to obtain Russian citizenship in order to retain ownership of their properties.
