Architectural “monsters” to be built near Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, – mass media

Kiev citizens are raising the alarm being afraid for the future of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The reason is an order of the Ministry of Culture, published on the Internet and issued on 29 November last year, on approving scientific and project documentation as regards the determination of the borders and regimes of using the territory of the buffer zone around the Lavra. It is reported by Segodnia.

Citizens and experts are sure that by this act the authorities will unleash property developers who will continue raising their “monsters”, but this time next to the old sanctity.

According to archeologist Timur Bobrovsky, objects “Saint Sophia Cathedral” and adjacent monastery’s buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra”, entered in the List of UNESCO World Heritage in 1990, while in 2008 two schemes were added to define borderlines of the buffer zone. In 2009 UNESCO recommended to extend this buffer zone, the recommendation having been followed two years later.

Last year the Ministry of Culture approved a buffer zone project only for the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, having returned to the previous borders, established in 2008. So, the buffer zone borders of the 2011 year remain legitimate, but for some reason other borders are introduced,” explains Mr Bobrovsky. He adds that if, for instance, a property developer, referring to the order of the Ministry of Culture of 2016, builds a sky scraper next to the “monster” in Grushevskogo Street and is sued for this action, his lawyer will easily prove that the problem of two buffer zones is a concern of the Ministry of Culture, not his client’s.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine assured “Segodnia” today there is no issue of changing the buffer zone. “A protective (buffer) zone of the architectural ensemble of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was approved in the foreseen manner. Herewith it fully corresponds to the buffer zone of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, designed in 2009 and published on the UNESCO site.”

According to Marina Solovyova, head of the public company “Andreyev -Landscape Initiative”, talks around the curtailment of the buffer zone have been carried on for a long time now. “The point is the territory, where a former shoe factory is located (this square of 6 ha next to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is a part of the buffer zone). It was planned a long time ago to begin construction works on this site,” says Ms Solovyova.

Vice-President of Kiev National Union of Architects Organization Georgiy Dukhovichny also confirms that the buffer zone reduction issue has been spoken of many times. Regarding the premises of the shoe factory, they’ve intended to build it up for a long time. “This territory is the last outpost. Diagonally it’s within a stone throw from the Lavra,” clarifies Mr Dukhovichny.