The Ferris wheel scandal in Podil: the owner has threatened to take the matter to an international court
Dmytro Perov, a heritage conservationist in the capital, reported on the proceedings of the court hearing.
The dispute over the Ferris wheel on Kontraktova Square in Kyiv has escalated.
The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office is demanding that the attraction be dismantled. The office cites the structure’s allegedly unsafe technical condition and the lack of proper permits.
During the latest court hearing, the owner of the Ferris wheel, French entrepreneur Louis Tuten, again asked the judges to adjourn the case.
According to Dmytro Perov, Toutain explained this by saying that he was allegedly dismantling the structure himself.
The prosecutor pointed out that the owner of the attraction had promised to remove the wheel last year. In response, Tuten stated that “nobody 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 it is.
The owner denies safety concerns
Louis Tuten disagrees with the prosecution’s arguments regarding the Ferris wheel’s safety risks.
He claimed to have a court ruling that allegedly supports his position. However, according to Perov, the relevant court document was not produced during the hearing.
The owner of the attraction also threatened to file a lawsuit in an international court against the prosecution for labelling the structure as dangerous and demanding its dismantling.
What the prosecution says
The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office had previously stated that the Ferris wheel was in an unsatisfactory technical condition.
According to the prosecution, the case file referred to the wooden beams on which the attraction’s supporting metal structure is mounted.
These, as noted, showed signs of severe rot, structural deterioration of the wood and traces of prolonged exposure to moisture.
In addition, the prosecutor’s office pointed out that the ride had been operating for years without the necessary permits.
The Ferris wheel was installed as a temporary structure for the New Year and Christmas fair back in 2017. At that time, a control card was issued for a temporary breach of public amenities regulations.
After this permit expired, the attraction was not dismantled.
Why the dispute arose
The Ferris wheel on Kontraktova Square has been a prominent feature in the tourist area of Podil for many years.
At the same time, its status has become a subject of dispute between the owner, city authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The conflict concerns several issues: whether the attraction had valid permits, whether the structure is safe for visitors and passers-by, who is responsible for ensuring its dismantling, and whether the prosecutor’s office’s demands are lawful.
Separately, the case raises the question of whether the owner is fulfilling previous promises to remove the structure.
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