Vladivostok court orders demolition of illegally built wellness complex after years of disputes

A Vladivostok businesswoman has been ordered to demolish an aquatic and wellness complex after a court ruled it was built illegally. The Primorsky Territory Commercial Court declared the GorodOK facility at 4B Vatutin Street an unauthorised construction on May 7, 2023. The decision follows years of disputes over land use and missing permits.

The court’s ruling came after geodetic surveys revealed discrepancies between the building’s actual boundaries and official records. The complex was found to occupy land not zoned for such development. Additionally, entrepreneur Zanna Vasilenko had never secured a construction permit or a commissioning certificate for the project.

Part of the 844-square-metre facility—247 square metres—was built on land leased for a temporary store between 2007 and 2014. The remaining 597 square metres stand on state-owned land that was never formally registered in Russia’s cadaster. The Vladivostok city administration, along with its urban planning and property management offices, filed the lawsuit that led to the ruling. The court fully upheld the city’s claims and ordered Vasilenko to dismantle the building at her own expense.

The demolition order marks the end of a legal battle over the GorodOK complex. Vasilenko must now remove the structure, which was deemed illegal due to its location and lack of proper authorisation. The case highlights the consequences of building without required permits or land-use approvals.