A couple of questions about Ukraine.

[bkrevel]

Hi
I live in Canada, and visited relatives in Lviv area last June. A wonderful trip.

My Ukr is limited, so I could not ask the quetions, I would have liked to; and some have arisen within our coffee group here.

Hopefully, some of you can help me.

1. Do all file income tax (as we do) or is this still a 'new concept' , and difficult to administer, so nobody does?

2. Does the central gov't (Kiev) own all land; I know some has been given/bought back.

Apartment buildings, still owned by gov't.
Does the rent go to Kiev?

Are commercial buildings in Lviv (downtown area), still gov't.? I am assuming ALL private ownership of land/buildings was NIL during soviet times? is this correct:

3 Is the mayor of Lviv elected or appointed from Kiev? I have read that current mayor is corrupt, and appoints his family to key positions. Yes?

4. Are local police chiefs appointed by Kiev.?

5. I visited older relatives in villages , near Sokal. Would they own their house and lot?

I have a few more, but for now I would appreciate any help or answers you may have.

Thank you

Bob

[bkrevel]

Does anyone know something/anything about my questions?
thank you
waiting patiently
Bob

[Lvivske]

1. Yes
2a. No
2b. Yes (in a way)
2c. No, communism ended 20 years ago...
3a. No
3b. Yes (Mayor of Kiev isn't president, can't appoint mayors to other cities or w/e you're thinking. Do you know what a mayor is?)
4. Unsure.
5. How should I know if your relatives own property?

[bkrevel]

Thank you for your replies.

Lvivske

1. Yes

yes, they all file,,,,,,,
or yes, nobody does?

2a. No
2b. Yes (in a way)

2c. No, communism ended 20 years ago...

Who owns these thousands of apartment buildings/complexes. ?
Were they taken/stolen by the corrupt oligarchs, past gov'ts?
(A comment----these thousands of apartments/compex's,,,,the land and builidings ; in all of Ukraine; would be worth BILLIONS!!!)

3a. No

no.....elected locally
no.......appointed by Central Gov't in Kiev.

3b. Yes (Mayor of Kiev isn't president,..I know,...a misundertanding,,,,,I meant Kiev Central Gov't (Yanuk, and his cronies)

Kiev / Lviv , or mayors of all major cities,,,,,,,are they elected by city voters
or appointed by Cental Gov't?


4. Unsure.
5. How should I know if your relatives own property?

My question maybe should have asked,,,,,,....Of the thousands of houses, in the thousands of small villages,,,,,,,,.Has the Central Gov't given ALL THIS LAND BACK to the people who live in these houses?

Thank you
I appreciate your help
Bob


__________________

[AkMike]

Think of these apts. more like condo's. They own the condo but pay a monthly upkeep fee to a branch of the gov't. That takes care of the building and the property but you take care of the repairs needed inside.

There is privately owned land and houses. After the FSU fell everyone got title to the place they were in then. Anyone can own a house or apt. Raw land or farm land can only be owned by Ukrainians. I cannot. BUT if someone starts to build then I can buy it. Alot of the farm land is still controlled but the local gov't.
Everyone is supposed to file taxes but since it's mostly a cash economy some don't bother reporting income.