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‘They tore it all down': how Moscow destroyed my business overnight ‘They tore it all down': how Moscow destroyed my business overnight
(7 months later)
Dozens of shop in Moscow have been suddenly demolished in an operation to rid the city of “illegal” structures.Dozens of shop in Moscow have been suddenly demolished in an operation to rid the city of “illegal” structures.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has vowed to bring “order to city planning”, criticising the temporary retail structures that sprung up in the early 1990s in the empty spaces left by Soviet-era urban planners.Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has vowed to bring “order to city planning”, criticising the temporary retail structures that sprung up in the early 1990s in the empty spaces left by Soviet-era urban planners.
Authorities have described the shops as “unsightly” and “unhygienic”, the Moscow Times reported, but business owners say they have obtained all the necessary permits to trade and were operating legally.Authorities have described the shops as “unsightly” and “unhygienic”, the Moscow Times reported, but business owners say they have obtained all the necessary permits to trade and were operating legally.
Related: Moscow demolishes 'illegal' shops around its metro stations – in pictures
City Hall’s department of trade told the newspaper that the operation to remove them was “not yet over”, but they were unable to offer an exact number of structures that had been earmarked for destruction, nor give a date that bulldozers would next take to the streets.City Hall’s department of trade told the newspaper that the operation to remove them was “not yet over”, but they were unable to offer an exact number of structures that had been earmarked for destruction, nor give a date that bulldozers would next take to the streets.
Now dubbed the “night of the long shovels” by Russian media, residents and activists have rallied together to oppose the demolitions.Now dubbed the “night of the long shovels” by Russian media, residents and activists have rallied together to oppose the demolitions.
Maria Antonova co-owned several stores located near Sokol metro station in north-west Moscow until a few days ago. Though she’s been battling the city authorities for the right to trade for years, not a single court victory helped her when the bulldozers came, crushing all her stock and goods along with her stores. This is her story.Maria Antonova co-owned several stores located near Sokol metro station in north-west Moscow until a few days ago. Though she’s been battling the city authorities for the right to trade for years, not a single court victory helped her when the bulldozers came, crushing all her stock and goods along with her stores. This is her story.
Maria’s storyMaria’s story
In the beginning, there was just an empty square outside the [Sokol] metro station. We began selling things here in 1993 from tents and kiosks.In the beginning, there was just an empty square outside the [Sokol] metro station. We began selling things here in 1993 from tents and kiosks.
In 1997, we got our land lease renewed for another five years and began to prepare the legal documents for the construction of fixed structures. If you took all the documents and stacked them on the floor, they’d be over a metre high. It took us three years to do it all.In 1997, we got our land lease renewed for another five years and began to prepare the legal documents for the construction of fixed structures. If you took all the documents and stacked them on the floor, they’d be over a metre high. It took us three years to do it all.
Yesterday, they demolished two of our retail spaces. One serviced a small grocery store, and the other housed a technology store, a flower shop and a corner shop. We paid a lot for those retail spaces. The land was very expensive, not to mention the permits. Altogether, we invested around $500,000.Yesterday, they demolished two of our retail spaces. One serviced a small grocery store, and the other housed a technology store, a flower shop and a corner shop. We paid a lot for those retail spaces. The land was very expensive, not to mention the permits. Altogether, we invested around $500,000.
They began pressuring us in 2007, when construction of the Halabyan-Baltic highway tunnel began in Moscow. During one heated moment, they demolished one of our stores. It was so barbaric, and they reimbursed us next to nothing. They just came and knocked it down illegally.They began pressuring us in 2007, when construction of the Halabyan-Baltic highway tunnel began in Moscow. During one heated moment, they demolished one of our stores. It was so barbaric, and they reimbursed us next to nothing. They just came and knocked it down illegally.
Don’t think this whole demolition business began just now. For example, periodically they’d say they had to tear up our foundations, because of dangerous underground gas pipes. In actuality, there was no gas. It had been cut off back in 2005. MosGaz took us to court. They lost, but they didn’t give up.Don’t think this whole demolition business began just now. For example, periodically they’d say they had to tear up our foundations, because of dangerous underground gas pipes. In actuality, there was no gas. It had been cut off back in 2005. MosGaz took us to court. They lost, but they didn’t give up.
They kept up the pressure. Checks and verifications – if it wasn’t one thing, it was another. They took us to court again. They wanted to remove us from the land, because of “public needs”. At one point, we won the case, but then the Court of Appeals overturned the decision. We’re the only ones in Moscow, with our poor little stores, to reach the Supreme Arbitration Court.They kept up the pressure. Checks and verifications – if it wasn’t one thing, it was another. They took us to court again. They wanted to remove us from the land, because of “public needs”. At one point, we won the case, but then the Court of Appeals overturned the decision. We’re the only ones in Moscow, with our poor little stores, to reach the Supreme Arbitration Court.
Over and over again, I was harassed by riot police and the security guards at the tunnel construction site. All told, litigation over our shopping complex lasted five years. We brought in piles of permits. Everyone was exhausted.Over and over again, I was harassed by riot police and the security guards at the tunnel construction site. All told, litigation over our shopping complex lasted five years. We brought in piles of permits. Everyone was exhausted.
On 8 February, rumours reached me that somewhere, someone’s store was going to be torn down. That morning, I began calling this real estate inspectorate and asked: “Are you or are you not going to knock down our stores? Do we need to take our stock out from the stores or can we leave it there?” They said they’d speak to management.On 8 February, rumours reached me that somewhere, someone’s store was going to be torn down. That morning, I began calling this real estate inspectorate and asked: “Are you or are you not going to knock down our stores? Do we need to take our stock out from the stores or can we leave it there?” They said they’d speak to management.
In the end, they came during the night to demolish the place – with the goods and the employees still inside. The stores were fully stocked. It was like a punch in the kidneys.In the end, they came during the night to demolish the place – with the goods and the employees still inside. The stores were fully stocked. It was like a punch in the kidneys.
One of my tenants, Dmitry Kabanov, pleaded with them to give him at least 30 minutes to remove all his supplies. In the end, police twisted his arm behind his back and arrested him under article 319 – insulting a member of the authorities.One of my tenants, Dmitry Kabanov, pleaded with them to give him at least 30 minutes to remove all his supplies. In the end, police twisted his arm behind his back and arrested him under article 319 – insulting a member of the authorities.
In terms of compensation, I have no idea. So far, no one has given us anything.In terms of compensation, I have no idea. So far, no one has given us anything.
It’s highway robbery! They’re worse than criminals. I have worked at the Sokol station for 30 years, and not even in the 1990s did I see anything like this. They tore it all down and took everything away.It’s highway robbery! They’re worse than criminals. I have worked at the Sokol station for 30 years, and not even in the 1990s did I see anything like this. They tore it all down and took everything away.
A version of this article first appeared on MeduzaA version of this article first appeared on Meduza