Scandal over the Ferris wheel in Podil, Kyiv: owner threatens international lawsuit
14 May 05:36
A dispute over the removal of the Ferris wheel in Podil, Kyiv, continues. The owner of the attraction, French entrepreneur Louis Toutain, stated during the latest court hearing that he intends to appeal to an international court regarding the demands to remove the structure. The capital’s heritage preservation official, Dmytro Perov, reported on the proceedings of the latest court hearing, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office insists on the dismantling, citing the attraction’s dangerous condition and the lack of proper permits.
What happened in court
During the hearing on the Podil Ferris wheel case, Louis Tuten again asked the judges to postpone the hearing. According to Perov, the owner explained this by claiming that he was dismantling the structure on his own.
The prosecutor reminded the court that the owner of the attraction had promised to remove the wheel last year. In response, Tuten stated that “no one wants to help” him.
Also, according to Perov, the entrepreneur threatened that if pressure continued to be put on him, he might leave the structure as is.
Why the owner is threatening to take the case to an international court
Louis Tuten disputes the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office’s claims regarding the Ferris wheel’s safety hazards. He stated that he has a court ruling that allegedly supports his position; however, according to Perov, he did not provide the relevant document during the hearing.
The attraction’s owner also threatened to file a lawsuit in international court against the prosecutor’s office because they labeled the structure dangerous and are demanding its dismantling.
What the Prosecutor’s Office Says
The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office previously stated that the Ferris wheel was in poor technical condition. Specifically, the case file mentioned the wooden beams supporting the attraction’s metal structure.
According to the prosecutor’s office, they showed signs of severe rot, structural deterioration of the wood, and traces of prolonged exposure to moisture.
In addition, the prosecutor’s office noted that the attraction had been operating for years without the proper permits. The Ferris wheel was installed as a temporary structure for the New Year’s and Christmas fair back in 2017, having received a permit for a temporary violation of urban planning regulations. After the permit expired, the attraction was not dismantled.
Why the Ferris wheel in Podil became a problem
The Ferris wheel on Kontraktova Square has been a prominent attraction in the tourist district of Podil for many years. At the same time, its status has gradually become a subject of dispute between the owner, city services, and law enforcement agencies.
The dispute concerns several issues:
- whether the attraction had valid permits;
- Is the structure safe for visitors and passersby?
- who is responsible for dismantling it;
- whether the owner is fulfilling previous promises to remove the structure;
- whether the prosecutor’s office’s demands for dismantling are lawful.
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What is known about official negligence
In this case, allegations of official negligence against officials of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) have also been reported. This involves the director of the KCSA’s Department of Land Resources and the director of the Department of Territorial Control of the City of Kyiv.
According to the investigation, the officials may have responded inappropriately to the situation with the amusement ride, which remained at the site after the expiration of the temporary permits.
The legal saga continues
There have already been several legal developments surrounding the Ferris wheel. In particular, it was previously reported that the ride had been seized as part of criminal proceedings regarding its unsafe condition. In March, reports emerged that the seizure had been lifted; however, the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv later refuted these claims and stated that the prosecutor’s motion for seizure had been granted.
This means that the case has several parallel dimensions: a commercial dispute over dismantling, criminal proceedings regarding the condition and legality of the attraction’s operation, as well as a public conflict between the owner and city activists.
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