Deputy Mayor Azamat Kadyrov reported the municipality's intention to transfer land plots free of charge to state ownership at the following addresses: Chuy Avenue, 108 (11 acres) and Kyiv Street, 55 (490 sq. m).
The official noted that these plots are owned by the city and requested their transfer to state ownership to complete the picture.
Lawyer Yevgeny Savchenko, representing the Union of Artists, disagreed with the city hall's arguments, pointing out that the plot was allocated in 1949 for the construction of the House of Artists, which was commissioned in 1953 and has belonged to the Union of Artists ever since. He also noted that the building is a monument of architecture and is protected.
Savchenko added that the city hall's resolution from February 23 has already been challenged in the Administrative Court, with the hearing scheduled for April 16.Kadyrov, in response to the criticism, stated that the city hall is only transferring the right to the land plot, without addressing the issue of the building.
Savchenko countered: "You are transferring the land, but what will happen to the building? According to the Constitution and the Land Code, the land under the building belongs to the owner of that building. What is the legality of this resolution? It is initially illegal!"
The deputy mayor also noted that there are investment projects that require the preservation of historical objects, citing the "Ay-Peri" building as an example. "The object was transferred to an investor, but its historical appearance was preserved. We will not leave the artists out in the cold," he assured.
Umuraliyeva added that the mayor of Bishkek, Isa Omurkulov, had previously canceled the earlier decision to transfer the land, and the court recognized it as illegal.
She noted that the actions of the city hall could be regarded as "forced expropriation of land for state needs," while the plans for the use of the expropriated plot remain unclear. "There are talks about unclear investors. This territory is in a protected zone where construction is prohibited. We are talking about demolishing cultural monuments, which contradicts the president's decree on preserving historical heritage," the expert added.
According to her, the constitutional right to private property is also being violated, as the House of Artists and other objects were privatized before 1999.
Umuraliyeva emphasized that the Land Code recognizes the right to private ownership of land, and the previous resolution of the city hall contradicts this right and the principles of privatization.
She also pointed out the illegal actions of the president's administration, which has no right to interfere in the development of urban infrastructure, attempting to obtain a plot for the demolition of the Ministry of Economy building for unclear plans.The expert noted that compensation at market value or exchange should be discussed, rather than simply offering to lease the plot. "I believe that the Ministry of Economy building and the House of Artists should not be touched, as they are monuments. If the city council gives away the land at the request of the city hall, the deputies will be held accountable for this," Umuraliyeva concluded.
Deputy Aidar Surakmatov added that the "Ay-Peri" building cannot be compared to the House of Artists. "It needs to be preserved. You can offer another building, but it will be difficult for creative people to work elsewhere," he said.
Chairman of the Union of Artists Jakshybek Junushev reported that the city hall offered three rooms in the old resort building on Panfilov Street in exchange for the House of Artists.
"They suggested maintaining the building independently, as well as leasing it. After the decision is made by the city council, nothing can be changed," he added.Umuraliyeva also emphasized that the city hall does not have an urban planning conclusion for new construction and that this is a protected zone. "We cannot be like Bukhara or Samarkand; we have only five historical objects. Everywhere I have been, the historical part of the city is preserved. In Chicago, Trump built his hotel in the historical part, but we should not follow his example. We are a small country with a limited historical and cultural heritage," she expressed indignantly.
