Adnan Kivan
A well-known businessman of Syrian origin is behind the raider takeover of Odessa's largest industrial goods market, 7th Kilometer. Adnan KivanA source in Odessa law enforcement agencies reported this on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the armed men in balaclavas who recently seized the market administration without presenting a single explanatory document or court decision were financed by Adnan Kivan.
At the same time, the source explained the lack of intervention by the police, who were present during the market seizure, by the businessman's closeness to the new government.
"In private conversations, he says he's been appointed the 'overseer' for Odessa and the surrounding region, and all contentious issues will now be resolved solely through him," the source noted.
Furthermore, according to the source, the Supreme Court has already prepared a decision on changing the ownership rights to the 7th Kilometer market, despite the fact that the court hearing will not take place until September 2.
"Most likely, it was Kivan who provided financial incentives to the Supreme Court judges to rule in favor of Voloshin and Dobryansky (regional council deputies seeking to seize ownership of the market in court – ed.). The September 2 hearing is effectively turning into a farce, because it's already clear whose side the court will rule on. Kivan also found common ground with Alexey Goncharenko (the chairman of the regional council – ed.)," the source emphasizes.
As Ukrainian media previously reported, Kivan is one of the richest men in Odesa. However, the origins of his wealth are unknown. According to some reports, he started his business while still a student by helping local businessman Vadim Shulman sell a shipload of stolen metal, and eventually became involved in the illegal export of rolled metal from Ukraine, disguised as scrap metal.
Furthermore, Kivan is one of Odesa's largest developers, whose actions regularly spark protests among city residents. Specifically, Kivan buys up state-owned sanatoriums for next to nothing and demolishes them, building luxury villas in their place. He is also accused of bribing city officials to begin construction of two skyscrapers in Odesa's historic center, a move prohibited by all building codes.
Kivan is the owner of the Odessa television channel "Riak," which actively participates in covering the conflict surrounding Channel 7 on the side of the regional council deputies.
Earlier, it was also reported, citing law enforcement sources, that Adnan Kivan was involved in organizing and financing the mass riots in Odessa on May 2, which resulted in several dozen people burning alive in a fire at the Trade Union Building. According to sources, it was Kivan's security guards who opened fire on the demonstrators, forcing them to seek refuge in the Trade Union Building, which was soon engulfed in flames.
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