Baltic States – CIS, Crime, Estonia, Investments, Legislation, Real Estate, Tourism

"This is our work, which we have to do. When businesspeople from Ukraine and abroad alike wish to invest in Ukraine, it is my role as the prime minister to make sure that the investments are successful," Groysman told Ukraine's TSN television station in an interview.

The prime minister said that at the end of September a support center for investments will finally start to work in Ukraine and it is that agency that will be dealing with cases like the that of Zatoka.

Saakashvili said on social media last week that in the near future Zatoka will elect a new village secretary and strict order will start applying there. As a result of the very high price of land in the area the resort town has become a target of interest for officials, local strongmen and criminals, Saakashvili said.

The governor of the Odessa region promised that an end will be put to arson and theft in Zatoka. It is the duty of local authorities to make sure that street lighting works and streets are maintained, not to engage in killings and acts of arson, he said.

Saakashvili expressed hope that all Zatoka officials responsible for the massive plundering will be brought to justice. As things stand now, Zatoka village elder Vasily Zvyagintsev has been arrested as suspect in embezzlement of land plots.

TSN reported that last week a clash took place between Vichmann's representatives headed to the local administrative building and people described by the television channel and sportsmanly looking local young people who blocked their way. Tear gas was sprayed by one of the young people during the clash and police had to use batons to control the crowd.

In May this year two unidentified criminals shot and killed Alexander Pogorelyi, representative of Vichmann's company Litus Maris, in Odessa, Eesti Paevaleht has reported.

There have been similar conflicts also earlier and Vichmann has warned via his representatives that he would go to the European court to protect himself and his property.

Litus Maris wishes to build a 12-kilometer seaside promenade in the area for an estimated 80-100 mln hryvnia, or 3.5- 4.3 mln euros, Aripaev said in May 2015.

The promenade to be built in the village of Zatoka on the northern coast of the Black Sea would be the longest in Ukraine and one of the longest in Europe, the paper says. Vichmann owns a holiday center near the village and according to local media is interested in improving the appearance of the village.