Occupiers "sell" Ukrainian First Lady's Crimean apartment
The Russian occupiers have auctioned off an apartment in the city of Yalta, Crimea, belonging to Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for over UAH 17 million (about US$470,000).
Source: Crimeainform
Quote: "A property located at 44A, Baturyn Street, apt. 501, Livadia, Yalta, with an area of 119.5 sq. m, was put up for auction.
The starting price of the lot was RUB 24,642,000 (about US$264,000), and the auction step was RUB 1,232,000. Two individuals from Moscow were present at the bidding. Yulia Kalnitskaya bid RUB 43.124 million (roughly US$460,000), and the successful bidder, Olga Lipovetskaya, bid RUB 44.356 million (US$470,000)."
Previously: After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the Communist Party of Russia suggested that "the damage done to Donbas be compensated using the assets of Ukrainian officials in Russia" - specifically, that Olena Zelenska’s apartment in occupied Crimea should be confiscated.
Background:
- Olena Zelenska bought the 129.8-sq.-m apartment in a luxury development at the same address as the Livadia Palace, together with a 16.1-sq.-m parking space, in April 2013.
- According to Zelenskyy’s tax declaration, the property cost UAH 1.3 million (over US$160,000 at the then exchange rate).
- In 2019, Reuters reported that Zelenska had bought the luxury apartment in Livadia for half the market price from former MP and oligarch Oleksandr Buriak. Reuters noted that the couple was selling this apartment.
- Zelenskyy’s staff stated at the time that the apartment was bought at the market price and that the couple would only live in the apartment "after the mandatory liberation of Crimea". No plans to sell the apartment were mentioned in the statement.
- Crimea.Realii reported that Olena Zelenska’s Crimean apartment was located in the luxury Imperator (Emperor) development in Livadia, next-door to politicians, successful entrepreneurs and celebrities.
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