RUSSIA
Perspectives on privatisation Icomos2005 O-Z.XP 22.03.2005 11:51 Uhr Seite 204
Oligarchs line up to buy listed buildings…The governor of St Petersburg has proposed legislation that will allow the sale of palaces for half their estimated value – but to be restored The St Petersburg city government has announced plans to privatise
more than 2,000 listed buildings over the next few years,including several dozen important Czarist-era palaces. Several of
Russia’s oil barons have already expressed strong interest in acquiring grand historic residences in the city.
While the city currently rents [out], but does not sell, listed buildings to private companies, St Petersburg governor, Valentina
Matvienko, said last month that privatisation is the only way to save the city’s dilapidated historical centre from total ruin
because the government does not have the funds to maintain these buildings properly.
“Businessmen say that if they owned the palaces they rent, they wouldn’t be afraid to invest in renovation,” said Ms Matvienko.
“We need to be careful that the city’s architectural style isn’t altered but, at the same time, we can’t allow our architectural heritage
to crumble.” It is not yet known whether the proposed new law would allow foreigners to purchase property in St Petersburg, a subject on which Ms Matvienko will not be drawn. Such a liberalisation would certainly provoke a strong response from Russian
nationalists. Ms Matvienko said that a list of the first group of buildings to be sold is still being compiled, but local media have reported that these include the suburban Znamenka Palace near Peterhof, the Kochubei Palace in Pushkin, and the Sheremetev Palace in the city centre, part of which houses a branch of the State Museum of Theatre and Music.
Ms Matvienko, who is close to President Putin, has asked city legislators to prepare a law allowing for the privatisation of listed
buildings. It is expected to be ready later this year. he has also said that she will ask the State Duma, which is
currently controlled by the pro-Putin political party, United Russia,to amend a 2001 federal law forbidding the privatisation of
federally protected sites.
According to preliminary plans, the city plans to sell listed uildings for half their market value, but the new owners must
agree to undertake full renovation in consultation with specialists from St Petersburg’s Landmarks Preservation Committee
(KGIOP). The new owners of the listed buildings must also provide public access several times a year.
“This will be ownership with serious obligations and under strict State control,” said Vera Dementieva, head of the KGIOP:
“Owners will be required to repair listed buildings, or they will forfeit ownership”.
Privatisation may have already begun. Last month the local media revealed that Russia’s second richest man, oil magnate
Roman Abramovich, who currently resides in England, is spending $5 to $10 million on renovations to the Tenishev Palace on the
English Embankment, next to the State Historic Archives, which President Putin has taken over for his own administration.
A few hundred metres down the embankment, Russia’s largest oil company, Lukoil, is preparing to purchase the Baron Stieglitz
Palace, on which it currently has a 49-year lease. The company said it will spend $30 million on renovating its palace and gardens
over the next two years.
John Varoli
The Art Newspaper © 2002
9 June 2004
Heritage at Risk 2004/2005 Russia 205
Icomos2005 O-Z.XP 22.03.2005 11:51 Uhr Seite 205
An article about privatisation ,personaly I prefer a restored Youssoupov palace in the hands of privat persons and it will be (I n my view better if it would be better in Youssoupov's family hands
Vassili
