Russian singer Larisa Dolina is facing new problems in the real estate sector. This time, it concerns two apartments in Jurmala (Dzintari), which the artist cannot manage or sell due to EU sanctions.
According to lawyer Alexander Benkhin, Dolina's property in Dzintari is effectively frozen. The singer is unable to sell her apartments in the prestigious Amber Residence complex, nor can she pay utility bills, which may eventually lead to the loss of her property.
"The situation there is very bad. There was and is no direct provision in Latvian legislation and sanctions packages regarding confiscation. However, it is about the freezing of assets — you cannot even pay utility bills and cannot sell your property," the lawyer explained.
He stated that the possibility of nationalizing property owned by individuals under sanctions is already being discussed in Latvia. "The Saeima of Latvia claims that the property of individuals subject to sanctions should be nationalized. But then a very interesting game begins — a kind of deadlock," Benkhin noted.
The lawyer explained that the inability to pay utility bills leads to the accumulation of debt, which creates legal grounds for the arrest of property. "When debts for utility services accumulate, the utility company or the municipality can file a lawsuit for non-payment over a certain period and confiscate property to cover the debt," he said.
Benkhin also emphasized that attempts to solve the problem through indirect means may lead to criminal liability. "You cannot directly settle debts, and attempting to do so through third parties is considered a criminal offense. The same applies to re-registering or selling property through intermediaries," the lawyer noted.
According to him, in the current situation, the artist essentially has only one option — to challenge the sanctions in court.
"The situation is extremely difficult. The only way out is to file a lawsuit against the state and try to achieve the cancellation of the sanctions as unfounded," he stated.
However, this path, in the expert's opinion, is fraught with serious difficulties. "She needs an expensive European lawyer, but officially she cannot hire one, and unofficially — this will again be a criminal offense. The cost of services can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros," Benkhin explained.
He added that there are lawyers in Latvia with a special license to work with clients under sanctions, but such specialists are extremely rare. "There are special lawyers in Latvia with a license to work with sanctioned clients, but there are few of them. And so far she has not taken any steps," the lawyer concluded.
