Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Kyiv’s city government has for the second straight year doled out hundreds of millions of dollars of land and sold properties under very questionable, non-transparent conditions

The decision took the public by surprise, just like the land grab of 2007 that saw 300 plots worth billions of dollars doled out for a fraction of their truth worth. All of a sudden, four percent of the city’s land changed hands in a blink of an eye.

Once again, establishing who the new landlords are and whether they paid market price is difficult. Conveniently, the Kyiv City Council approved a resolution in 2004 that only allows release of such information with the permission of those involved. The latest land sale came as the Supreme Court passed judgments that legitimized the October sale.

The city’s power brokers are free to do whatever they please. More controversial land decisions should be expected unless the public demands transparent sales. In a city where corruption is widespread, public land scarce and property disputes sometimes bloody, public tenders, meetings and records will ensure clear and fair transfer of ownership. City coffers, not private pockets, need to be filled.