A court overturned the privatization of land near a natural monument in Adygea.

The prosecutor's office convinced a court in Adygea to return two plots of land near the Rufabgo Stream Waterfalls natural monument to state ownership.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the Rufabgo waterfalls became one of the attractions of Adygea in 2013, nominated for the "Russia-10" competition, designed to select the country's most popular attractions.

A court in Adygea has upheld the prosecutor's office's claim to return a 1.6-hectare plot of land near the Rufabgo waterfalls to state ownership, the republican prosecutor's office reported, a publication of which was brought to the attention of Kommersant today.

According to the agency, in 2024, in violation of the law, the Federal Property Management Agency transferred two plots of land located in the Rufabgo Stream to the ownership of a commercial organization. In the area of ​​the regional natural monument "Rufabgo Stream Waterfalls" on the banks of the Belaya River.

Invalidated the purchase and sale agreements for the aforementioned land plots.

"At the request of the republic's prosecutor's office, the Arbitration Court of the Republic of Adygea invalidated the purchase and sale agreements for the aforementioned land plots. After the court decision comes into force, the defendant is obliged to transfer the real estate objects under an acceptance certificate to the federal property management body," the prosecutor's office website stated.

Ecologists are concerned about plans to develop tourism at the expense of Adygea's nature.

As a reminder, in February, the Supreme Court of Adygea rejected the claim of the Social and Ecological Union, which demanded that the transfer of forest lands on the plateau be overturned. Lago-Naki is being used for the construction of the Lagonaki ski resort. Environmentalists have stated that 9,950 trees are planned to be cut down, and the planned work will destroy the landscape.

Earlier, in March 2023, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources approved the boundaries of the Lagonaki Biosphere Reserve, intended for tourism development in the Caucasus Nature Reserve. Environmentalists opposed the construction of the mountain resort, stating that it would cause serious damage to the plateau's flora and fauna, including dozens of endangered plants. Furthermore, development plans within the reserve's protected zone contravene legislation.

In August 2024, activists reported that trees were being cut down and a water pipeline was being built on the Lago-Naki plateau, where authorities plan to build the resort. Environmentalists have confirmed that construction is damaging the environment.

In addition to the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve, the Lago-Naki plateau is home to specially protected natural areas: the Fisht Ecological and Tourist Area, the Buyny Ridge, the Upper Reaches of the Tsitse, Pshekha, and Pshekhashkha Rivers, and the Bolshoy Thach Nature Park, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Lago-Naki Resort: Alpine Skiing and Unique Nature".