Activists have climbed on top of a crane working on the reconstruction of Hostynny Dvir, a landmark of Kyiv's Podil district, in what they describe as an effort to save the old building by blocking works.
Igor Lutsenko and Maria Lebedeva, together with a third activist, reportedly climbed the crane on May 26. Both have been campaigning for months to stop the reconstruction of Hostynny Dvir (the hospitable court), a large neo-classical monument with elegant arches and courtyard dating back to the early 19th century.
The battle over Hostynny Dvir has been fought for the past couple of years, and has turned into a cause celebre for those fighting to save Kyiv’s landmarks, many of which have fallen into disrepair and have since been dismantled. Activists set up a Hostynny Dvir republic, and have camped out to prevent the reconstruction of the monument, at times clashing with police forces. However, in February a fire finally pushed them out, allowing the property developer to move forward with reconstruction works.
Lebedeva posted via Facebook that all the activists were “calmly hanging on carabiners,” and that construction works had stopped and the workers gone home.
Activists first took over Hostynny Dvir exactly one year ago on Kyiv Day, May 26, 2012. They did this after the Kyiv City Administration issued a permit to property developer
Ukrrestavracia, a company owned by Cyprus-registered Afidreko Holdings
Limited, to develop a land project for future reconstruction of Hostynny
Dvir into a shopping and office center.
For a full timeline of the events surrounding Hostynny Dvir, read the Kyiv Post’s earlier coverage.
