18 January, Minsk /Lilia Krapivina - BELTA/. When citizens' land plots are seized for state needs, the value of these plots is returned to the citizens with indexation. This was announced to journalists today by the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Property of Belarus, Andrey Gaev, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. When land plots are seized, it is envisaged that a person does not lose the money previously invested in the purchase of this plot – the value of the plot is returned to them with indexation, Andrey Gaev noted. He stated that in the republic, land plots owned by citizens are constantly being seized. This happens in any settlement for the construction of roads and facilities. These issues are generally regulated. Seizure occurs on two grounds: for state needs and due to violation of legislation (constant non-payment of taxes, use of the plot for unintended purposes). The Head of the Land Registration and Valuation Department of the State Property Committee, Alexander Dolzhenkov, noted: "Citizens are not offended when these lands are seized." He recalled that the Law on Land Ownership in Belarus was adopted back in 1993. And citizens had the right to buy plots at a preferential price – a fivefold land tax rate. This is a purely symbolic price for plot owners, the committee representative believes. Therefore, today, citizens in Minsk who previously bought their plots at a preferential price receive $160-200 thousand when their houses are demolished and lands are seized.-0-

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