Expropriation and nationalization moves in Crimea and Ukraine

A regional Crimean Tatars’ leadership figure urged the state to consider expropriating assets tied to those who organized a blockade of Crimea’s water, transport, food, and energy networks. The call came from Eyvaz Umerov, head of the regional national-cultural autonomy, who stated, We urge them to consider expropriating their property and the entities they control. The remark was reported by DEA Novosti.

Umerov asserted that many of the accused are former Crimeans who held Ukrainian-era jobs and built substantial wealth, some of it questionable in origin.

The nationalization bill targets prominent Ukrainian figures linked to the Crimean Tatar people, including Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Djemilev, the deputy chairman of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Lenur Islyamov, and the former parliamentary representative Andrey Senchenko. The Ukrainian parliament member from Ukraine may also be affected by the expropriation measure. (Source: various regional briefings)

I am prepared to help identify their holdings and assets, Umerov promised, adding that a number of properties have already been re-registered.

In May 2014, Kyiv cut water deliveries from the Kherson region to the peninsula via the North Crimean Canal, which previously supplied about nine-tenths of the region’s needs. A drought in 2020 further stressed Crimea’s water access, and on March 3, 2022, after Russian forces secured the hydraulic facility, water began to flow into the canal by gravity. (Source: regional energy and water authorities)

expropriation bill

Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov announced on March 23 that regional authorities would begin expropriating properties belonging to Ukrainian oligarchs who support Kyiv’s government. (Context: governance statements from Crimea)

There were also mentions of a forthcoming expropriation of the Yalta residence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with reports placing the property in the Emperor complex near the Livadia Palace. Reports quoted REN about an estimated value of 65 to 75 million rubles. (Source: REN reports)

The chairman of the State Council, Vladimir Konstantinov, indicated that Ukrainian oligarch assets in Crimea could be worth billions of rubles under such measures. A bill was introduced in the Crimean State Council proposing the expropriation of property owned by residents of hostile countries, dating from February 24, for consideration by Russia’s State Duma. The proposal would amend Article 2 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. (Attribution: regional legislative records)

The scope covers movable and immovable properties, cash, bank deposits, securities, corporate rights, and other property owned directly or through dependent persons by foreign states and individuals connected to them. The text envisions a framework for forced confiscation of assets belonging to foreign states and parties deemed to have engaged in hostile actions against Russia. (Legal summaries from regional officials)

after the referendum

Following Crimea’s 2014 annexation, Ukrainian state enterprises operating on the peninsula were deemed Russian. Subsequently, authorities began nationalizing private property, including notable cases such as the sale of an oligarch’s estate to cover bank deposit losses and refunds to defrauded depositors. Several assets—residential properties, commercial sites, and hospitality facilities—were reported to have changed hands. (Cited: regional economic reports and witness testimonies)

Additionally, to safeguard food security, state-backed enterprises such as Krymkhleb and the Simferopol bakery were nationalized. The Aivazovskoye palace and park complex in Partenit, along with facilities connected to Ukrainian energy and communications firms, were also mentioned in the nationalization drive. Several municipal infrastructure properties, including bus stops and ticket offices, were cited as part of the broader property transfers. (Source: regional economic records)

On March 1, 2015, officials announced that the expropriation process in Crimea would pause or end the phase of property transfers for the time being. (Report summaries)

Nationalization of Russian assets

On April 1, the Verkhovna Rada expanded the list of individuals whose property could be expropriated, extending to Russian citizens and those closely connected to Russia, as well as anyone who did not condemn the military operation. The new measure superseded an earlier document outlining basic principles for seizing assets belonging to the Russian Federation and its residents in Ukraine. (Policy briefings)

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated on April 8 that all Russian property on Ukrainian territory would be expropriated to compensate for losses from the hostilities. (Official statements)