Vilnius mayor: Agreement on 'House of Moscow' demolition expected in weeks

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas announced that negotiations to demolish the controversial "House of Moscow" are nearing completion, with an agreement anticipated in the coming weeks. The city aims to have the building, a symbol of strained relations with Russia, torn down without expending public funds.

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We want to sign a joint agreement where we agree that the entire building will be demolished in such a way that not a single public euro needs to be spent on the whole procedure.

Currently, technical and procedural coordination is underway between the building's bankruptcy administrator, the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate (VTPSI), and the municipality. The objective is to sign a joint agreement that permits the demolition without any public expenditure. "We want to sign a joint agreement where we agree that the entire building will be demolished in such a way that not a single public euro needs to be spent on the whole procedure," Benkunskas stated.

The mayor expressed confidence that government support, particularly from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment, will accelerate the process. He noted that this approach bypasses the public procurement route, which has been unsuccessful for the past five years. Several major construction companies, including "Naresta," "Kalvasta," "Yit Lietuva," "Gilesta," "Tilsta" (part of "Fegdos grupei"), and "Hiltus," have responded positively to the initiative to contribute to the demolition at their own expense.

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There is definitely progress and we are not far from that agreement. The position of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment in supporting this path – not going through public procurement, which has been done unsuccessfully for five years – will undoubtedly allow responsible business to contribute to this initiative.

While a court ordered the demolition of the "House of Moscow" in late 2022, the process has been stalled. Previous attempts, including a VTPSI tender for demolition work, became entangled in legal disputes. If the plan to have private companies fund the demolition fails, the inspectorate will have to launch a new public tender. The "House of Moscow" project, with 75% of its shares owned by entities from Moscow, was decided upon in 2004. Benkunskas indicated that the plot in the city center will eventually be transferred to Ukrainian religious organizations.

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If it were up to me, we would already have signatures on the contract and would be going to court to confirm it. However, I think we can count the weeks until we have clarity on this situation.