On 25 May, Commissioner for Human Rights in Leningrad Region Sergey Shabanov petitioned Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev to remove the gaps in the legislature that stopped elevators in apartment buildings.

Elevators in apartment buildings are being massively cut off because of the end of their lifecycle and improper technical condition; the cutoff occurs after prosecutor’s inspections and by court decisions. As a result, residents of some Russian cities: Vyborg, Magadan, Norilsk, Sarapul and other have been put in a difficult situation. People with limited mobility: disabled people, pensioners, families with little children suffer most of all.

Besides, there are many mistakes made during inspections. They have led to the cutoff of recently repaired or changed elevators, safe for use; and they might have happened due to some legislative gaps. Having analysed decisions of federal courts, Sergey Shabanov revealed a number of unsettled issues.

In his letter to the Prime Minister Sergey Shabanov expressed his concern about the situation with the elevators’ cutoff and submitted his arguments. The Commissioner proposed to adopt a legal act which would determine a state body to accredit the organizations which would examine the elevators, and establish the accreditation procedure.

"An elevator’s lifecycle is 25 years. An average age of apartment buildings equipped with elevators in the territory of the Russian Federation significantly exceed this term. Taking the above into consideration, a Government should urgently adopt a decision to fulfill the gaps to prevent elevators from mass cutoff and mass violation of the rights of citizens," the Commissioner for Human Rights in Leningrad Region underlined.

Adopted from the Press Service of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Leningrad Region

Photo: open sources