The All-Russia Exhibition Center, or VVTs, is seeking to terminate the lease held by the operator of Moscow’s highest Ferris wheel, which is located on VVTs’ territory.
VVTs asked the operators of the amusement rides on its territory to remove them, but they refused. Subsequently, the exhibition center started repairs of asphalt adjacent to the amusement rides, blocking access to them.
The ride operators attempted to remove the asphalt, but security guards prevented them.
The repairs annoyed local residents, Vesti Moskva said on its website Sunday.
“I have a stroller and two babies,” Nelli Romanyutina said. “How can I walk here with a stroller? This is simply impossible.”
VVTs has argued that RVA, which operates the Ferris wheel, has failed to register its lease contract, which was originally signed in 1998. But Vladimir Gnezdilov, chief designer of Mir Group, said a prosecutor signed a request to register the contract but VVTs ignored it. Mir Group owns RVA.
The dispute will be considered by an arbitration court.
Gnezdilov said the amusement rides will be demolished to make space for vendors.
“They’ll build a large shopping mall here,” he said.
VVTs is a major Soviet landmark in the north of Moscow built to display the economic achievements of the Soviet Union.
