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On November 2, 2022, at a personal reception, residents of the Narvskaya Zastava micro-raion of St. Petersburg addressed the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, who categorically object to the renovation program, which involves the demolition of 163 apartment buildings and the rellocation of people. The Applicants asked the Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee to verify the legality of the initial auction, the legality of declaring the houses as emergency; the applicants, consider the examination as a false one, and it was arranged in way to deprive them of their "protected status", and they also expressed fear that their area would lose its historical appearance. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, agreed that the area is unique and should be preserved. A report was presented by Ms. M.G. Parastayeva, Acting Head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for St. Petersburg, who told that previosly a criminal investigation was launched in accordance with Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of power), but the city Prosecutor's Office canceled this proceeding. This decision is now being appealed to a Higher Authority. The Chairman of the Investigative Committee gave a number of specific instructions, including the appointment of additional examinations. As a result of the revealed facts of violation of the housing rights of residents of the Narvskaya Zastava micro-raion, the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for St. Petersburg launched a criminal case on the offense of a crime prescribed in Part 3, Article 30, Part 4, Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (attempted fraud).

According to Investigators, unidentified persons applied for participation in auctions organized by the St. Petersburg Property Fund OJSC; they acted on behalf of "SPb Renovation" LLC between November 2009 and July 2020; they did not intend to carry out entrepreneurial activity, but pursued the criminal goal of acquiring the right to real estate by deceit and they had no real opportunity to fulfill their obligations. These auctions were held for the right to conclude agreements on the development of 22 built-up areas of the city of St. Petersburg, including the territory located within the Narvskaya Zastava raion, as a result, these persons were recognized as the winners of the auctions, after which they organized the conclusion and extension of agreements on the development of mentioned territories until 2029, without actually starting to fulfill their obligations. At the same time, according to the terms of the above agreements, they were given the opportunity to acquire ownership or lease of land plots in the city of St. Petersburg free of charge.

However, the Accomplices could not bring their criminal intent to the end due to circumstances beyond their control, due to the appeal of the Initiative Group of Residents of Narvskaya Zastava to Law Enforcement Agencies with an appeal about the above mentioned illegal actions.

Currently, a number of searches are being carried out, during which items and documents relevant to the criminal case are seized. Measures are being taken to clarify all the circumstances of the incident, as well as to identify the persons to be charged as accused.