On April 24, Sergey Menyaylo, the head of North Ossetia, recently addressed the findings from an audit assessing the legality of land distribution in Vladikavkaz and other districts within the republic. Initiated in January, the inspection reviewed over 500 plots and discovered irregularities concerning 35 of them. Menyaylo described these findings as "outrageous."

Most of these discrepancies were found in Vladikavkaz, particularly in areas such as the "Narton" and "Arboretum" parks, around the Water Station, and along the Terek River's banks. "Land plots have been handed over to private individuals for the construction of personal residences like summer houses. Just two years ago, we faced difficulties locating suitable plots for schools! This level of mismanagement is prevalent across all the republic's gorges," Menyaylo expressed his indignation.

In response to these violations, the prosecutor's office has forwarded 43 legal challenges against the implicated parties. Additionally, Menyaylo mentioned, "We have also submitted 13 appeals concerning plots in districts like Vladikavkaz, Alagirsky, Digorsky, Kirovsky, Mozdoksky, and Prigorodny to the prosecutor's office, urging a review of the legal grounds for their registration, and their lease and ownership statuses."

He highlighted the issue's magnitude, stating, "We are not merely discussing a few hundreds of acres. This involves vast tracts of land significant to the entire republic."

Further discrepancies emerged during the inspection. "The original designated land use, as legally prescribed, is seldom adhered to. We often honor our ancestors and our history in words but fail to do so in actions. For instance, land adjacent to the federally protected cultural heritage site in Tsmiti has been parceled out and sold for construction, blatantly disregarding not only the law but basic human logic. Notably, it's not strangers but locals who are engaging in these constructions," Menyaylo revealed.

He also provided data showing that in Dzuarikau, within the boundaries of the federally significant Tseisky nature reserve, 303 plots were illegally sold, and over 90 hectares were leased between 2013 and 2014.

The Ministry of State Property and Land Relations of the Republic subsequently requested the Prosecutor of RSO-Alania to verify the legality and validity of these plots' cadastral registration and leasing.

"This is merely the beginning. We haven't yet completed our examination of all potential issues. There is a significant amount of work ahead. Our goal is to halt development in areas where it hasn't started, like near Dzuarikau village, pause it where it has begun, and ensure that existing structures comply with legal standards," Menyaylo stated.