In Kyiv, a system has long been established where land for construction is not allocated to those who genuinely need it, but rather to those who know how to negotiate.

Various loopholes, violations, and corruption schemes come into play, causing the city to lose parks, historic buildings, and areas that could serve the community.

As reported by Economic Truth, there is a scheme in the capital that allows developers to acquire vast plots of land without any competitions. All that is needed is a small building, like a transformer booth or a restroom. Such manipulations have been colloquially dubbed "toilet schemes."

How does it work?

The law does not limit the ratio between the area of the building and the size of the land transferred for it. As a result, a small booth can "bring" its owner a hectare of land in the city center.

For instance, in 2024, the company "Smart Properties" leased 1 hectare of land for the construction of a residential complex with an underground parking lot. The reason? They owned a structure with an area of 72 square meters. This is 138 times smaller than the land allocated to them.

Law enforcement attempted to halt the deal: the prosecutor's office opened a criminal case, but the Department of Land Resources of the Kyiv City State Administration simply ignored their remarks. The decision was put to a vote in the Kyiv City Council on the third attempt, without discussion and even without mentioning project details.

This is not an isolated case

In 2021, the same scheme allowed LLC "Menapolis" to acquire 0.5 hectares of land under the pretext of servicing two kiosks and a transformer substation. After a scandal, the lease agreement was terminated, but the scheme continues to operate.

Now, activists and deputies are demanding the annulment of the decision regarding "Smart Properties." A vote will take place on January 30, 2024, and it will become clear which deputies support such manipulations.

While Kyiv residents pay taxes, some developers are acquiring elite land plots, hiding multimillion-dollar projects behind small booths.