World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
St Petersburg to clear land for planned police university campus
St Petersburg plans to build a campus for its Ministry of Internal Affairs university on two city-owned plots in Moskovsky district.
The land covers about 27.3 hectares and has 65 occupied sites with buildings.
The plots were once used for collective gardening by airport employees, but that use was temporary and users have no land-use agreements with the city.
City officials asked people to leave in March 2026, but the plots were not fully cleared.
Compulsory clearance work starts on 26 October, although the city says voluntary removal remains its priority.
People who need more time or help can contact the property control committee to discuss arrangements, and removed belongings will be taken to temporary storage.
St Petersburg plans to clear two city-owned plots in the Moskovsky district for a campus of the St Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
The plots cover about 27.3 hectares and contain 65 identified land uses with structures.
The city says users have no formal agreements to occupy the land, and not all have cleared it despite notices issued in March 2026.
Active enforcement measures are due to begin on 26 October 2026, though officials say voluntary clearance remains the priority.
The city says it can offer consultation and assistance to people who face difficulties leaving.
- Who
- St Petersburg’s property control committee is overseeing the clearance; the land is occupied by citizens.
- What
- Two plots are being cleared for a planned campus of the St Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
- When
- Active clearance measures are due to begin on 26 October 2026.
- Where
- The plots are in St Petersburg’s Moskovsky district.
- Why
- The city plans to build a university campus there and says the current users do not have formal legal grounds to occupy the land.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The land was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Part of the territory was temporarily allocated for the Pulkovo-2 collective gardening association.
An arbitration court refused to recognize the association’s claim to permanent use of the land.
The property control committee notified users that they should leave the land voluntarily.
The active stage of clearance measures is due to begin.
- Total area
- About 27.3 hectares
- Plots
- 2 city-owned plots
- Identified land uses
- 65, with structures
- Planned development
- Campus of the St Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
- Clearance starts
- 26 October 2026
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What people are saying
In cases where citizens, due to age, health or other objective circumstances, have difficulty clearing the territory themselves, the relevant services may provide the necessary consultation and organizational assistance within their authority.