Mykolaiv authorities want to suspend the acceptance of applications for land privatisation

In Mykolaiv, there are plans to suspend the acceptance of applications for land privatisation. Illustrative photo from the NikVesti archive

Over 4,000 applications from citizens for the free privatisation of land plots have accumulated in Mykolaiv, but their consideration is currently effectively blocked due to the imposition of martial law.

This issue was discussed during a meeting of the Commission on Human Rights, Children, Family, Law and Transparency, NikVesti reports.

Committee members noted that the procedure for accepting applications remains in place, although decisions regarding land disposal are prohibited under martial law.

Committee Chair Olena Kiseliova emphasised that this situation places an unnecessary burden on the system and misleads people.

«Why are we opening the door for applications if the law tells us that we have no right to make decisions on this matter?» she noted.

According to her, it would be advisable to temporarily suspend the acceptance of new applications until the end of martial law to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and citizens’ false hopes.

«Perhaps we need to introduce a technical amendment and an administrative procedure suspending the process until the end of martial law. Do not accept new applications. That way, we won’t be sending people on a wild goose chase. People submit applications for a reason. The Administrative Services Centre accepts them, processes them, and writes a conclusion. Then they end up in a box,» added Olena Kiseliova.

The city’s chief architect, Yevhen Poliakov, explained that current legislation allows for the official suspension of the processing of applications. At the same time, despite consultations, the Centre for Administrative Services continues to accept applications, which are subsequently forwarded for consideration in accordance with established procedures.

As a result, the commission recommended that the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, together with the Administrative Services Centre, coordinate their actions and temporarily suspend the acceptance of new applications, clearly informing citizens of the reasons for this decision.

As for the more than 4,000 applications already submitted, it is proposed that they be brought before the city council for consideration and that a single decision be adopted — to inform applicants of the suspension of consideration until the end of martial law.

It was previously reported that the Mykolaiv Department of Architecture and Urban Planning had accumulated 713 applications from citizens wishing to receive 100 square metres of land each.

It should be recalled that Mykolaiv’s mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, stated that the reorganised Land Resources Administration, which has been merged with the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, is operating far more efficiently than it has over the past eight years.

On 25 April 2024, members of the Mykolaiv City Council reorganised the Land Resources Administration, merging it with the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning. At the same time, the draft resolution «On the optimisation of the structure of the executive bodies of the Mykolaiv City Council» provides for the creation of a commission to oversee the reorganisation of the Land Resources Administration.

It is also worth noting that, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the average cost of 1 hectare of agricultural land in the Mykolaiv region is 34,033 hryvnias, which is one of the lowest prices in Ukraine.