“They Are Dolina, We Are Lurie”: Rostov Embankment Neighbors Fear Fires

The court has finally received the results of the examination on the construction of a business center on the Rostov embankment. However, the proceedings are still dragging on. What is the reason for the prolonged case review and why residents of neighboring buildings fear fires, a correspondent from 161.RU found out.

The decision to build a 12-story business center at Beregovaya, 23 in Rostov was made four years ago. In 2022, the examination gave a positive conclusion, and the architecture department issued a construction permit. It was obtained by the plot owner, entrepreneur Takuin Gogoryan. The developer was the firm «Parus» owned by businessman Samvel Gogoryan. In 2024, the authorities revoked the construction permit due to a protest from the prosecutor«s office. It pointed out that it found violations in the business center project. Since February 2025, a court case has been ongoing between »Parus« and the architecture department. The company wants to get the construction permit back.

The court had been waiting for the expert opinion since November 2025. The firm working on it missed deadlines several times for various reasons. The first time, the specialists did not have enough time to study all the data, the second time they all fell ill en masse. In January, the opinion was finally prepared, but this time, not all parties to the case had time to familiarize themselves with it.

«The opinion has finally arrived, to the joy of all participants in the court session. But, as I understand it, no one has familiarized themselves with it yet,» the judge stated.

The opinion is a voluminous document with drawings and professional calculations. Therefore, the court allocated almost another month for its study.

«The experts give a reasoned answer with conclusions to every question from the court. All answers are provided with calculations, diagrams, and references to laws,» Elena Smilich, the lawyer for residents of buildings neighboring the construction site, told 161.RU.

A representative of the firm «Parus» did not attend the last session, which surprised even the judge.

«Has the applicant lost interest in the case?» she asked.

The next session will take place in mid-February. At it, the parties will discuss the expert opinion.

Residents of neighboring buildings told 161.RU that workers have not been seen there for a long time. Instead, homeless people have been frequenting the site.

«Suspicious individuals periodically sneak around there. They lit a fire on New Year»s. They are dragging some metal pieces from there. You can crawl into the construction site,« claims one of the residents.

A correspondent from 161.RU contacted Lidya Osnovina — she is listed as the executive director from the client on the object«s passport.

«Don»t take a comment from me. That«s all I need. You are calling a personal phone to get some comments. What are you talking about? I don»t know you. Who are you? The case is in court, right? The case is in court. You attend every court session. We have no questions outside the court, everything is only in court,« stated Lidya Osnovina.

Rostov residents fear that a fire could occur on the construction site and spread to their homes. They categorically oppose the construction. In their opinion, building a business center so close to residential buildings could harm them. The basements of the high-rise are already being flooded, and there is a risk of cracks forming.

«We will go to the Supreme Court, like Lurie. They are Larisa Dolina, and we are Polina Lurie. I»m serious. This is our home,« stated one of the Rostov residents.