Rostov Sues Over Dismantling of Parking Meters After EU Sanctions
The administration of Rostov-on-Don has filed a lawsuit demanding the return of dismantled parking meters to the streets, which stopped working due to European Union sanctions.
Feb 19, 2026 0
According to the agreement, in 2027, the entire paid parking system should be transferred free of charge to the city of Rostov-on-Don.
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The Arbitration Court of Rostov Region has accepted a lawsuit from the municipal administration against the company «Rostovskoye Parkovochnoye Prostranstvo» (Rostov Parking Space), the operator of the paid parking system. The reason for the proceedings is the unauthorized dismantling of some parking meters.
The investor explained its actions by citing the European Union sanctions, which led to the shutdown of the licensed software for the equipment. To ensure the safety of the non-working devices, they had to be removed from the streets.
The parties signed an investment agreement back in 2015. According to its terms, in 2027, all paid parking infrastructure should be transferred free of charge to the city«s ownership.
The owner of the company is Elena Assessorova from Moscow. The company«s financial indicators show revenue growth, reaching 57.2 million rubles (approximately $572,000 at current rates) in 2024, but no net profit has been earned during the entire operation. The smallest loss was recorded in the same 2024 year — 25.8 million rubles (approximately $258,000 at current rates).
The Rostov administration considered the dismantling a violation of contractual obligations. The lawsuit emphasizes: «The suspension of software operation cannot be grounds for relieving the investor of obligations to implement and properly operate the paid parking space system and responsibility for non-fulfillment of this obligation.»
City authorities insist on restoring the equipment«s operation and returning it to the designated places as part of a court decision.
Separately, it is worth noting that the region has for the first time legally established maximum rates for paid parking:
- for categories A and M — 50 rubles (approximately $1 at current rates) per hour;
- for category B — 100 rubles (approximately $1 at current rates) per hour;
- for other categories — 195 rubles (approximately $2 at current rates) per hour.
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