Odesa ordered to demolish everything that illegally hinders access to the sea

Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov has ordered the dismantling of fences and other structures that prevent citizens from accessing the Black Sea coast in the city.

The relevant order was published by the municipality's press service.

However, there is a nuance, namely, it refers only to those elements and structures that are installed illegally. This should be done by the Department of Engineering Protection of the City and Coastal Development of the Odesa City Council together with the Kyiv District Administration.

The department should also exercise control over the implementation of the Rules for the Equipment and Operation of Beaches in Odesa by beach tenants within its authority. Previously, the mayor's order only stated that the department exercised control.

On the eve of the order's publication, prosecutors began investigating officials of the utility company and the Odesa City Council on suspicion of abuse in the arrangement of paid parking lots by the sea. According to the investigation, the areas of the sites were underestimated in the contracts, and access to the beaches was restricted by barriers. As a result, proceedings have been initiated over abuse of office (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) by officials of the Odestransparkservice utility and a department of the city council.

During the searches, law enforcement officers recorded these violations and have already taken steps to dismantle the barriers and ensure free access to the beaches. Currently, the work to restore legal access to the coast is ongoing through joint efforts of law enforcement.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Suspilne, Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said that the mayor's office is unable to remove the fences set up by nightclubs like Ibiza and Ithaca.

"I was born and raised in Odesa, and all the beaches were open. I went where I wanted, how I wanted, and there were no questions. I would like to return to my childhood and have Odesa like that. Unfortunately, time takes its toll. Everything that has been built, formalized, and received by tenants, I do not support what we have again today, that people are allowed in only for money," the mayor said.

He reminded that the municipality requires tenants to leave a five-meter strip to the water's edge, so that 30% of the beach is free access, so that it does not need to be occupied by these sunbeds. And as for the clubs, he noted that in some places where they set up their artificial playgrounds, there was no beach at all

Кирило Бойко