An interview with restaurateur Savva Libkin — on the business climate in Odesa, pressure on private property, and the fight for the restaurant “Dacha.”
Entrepreneur Savva Libkin shares his experience running a business, prolonged legal battles with state authorities, and attempts at corporate raiding. In a candid interview with LDaily, Libkin speaks openly about the challenges of protecting property rights in Ukraine and the risks faced not only by large enterprises but also by small businesses across the country.
LDaily: How has your business changed over the past two years? What is happening now in Odesa’s restaurant industry? What challenges do you face on a daily basis?
S. Libkin: How has it changed? To be honest, I don’t even know how to answer that — there’s a war going on.We’re still operating, and that alone is already quite an achievement.
On the other hand, the main difficulties come not only from Russian military aggression but, unfortunately, also from Ukrainian officials.
What can I compare it to? That’s a complicated and ambiguous question because the war affects everyone and everything. That’s why I’d rather not delve too deeply into the topic — I doubt I can say anything fundamentally new.
LDaily: Many Ukrainian restaurateurs are now opening venues abroad. Have you considered expanding your business outside Ukraine? Why or why not?
S. Libkin: My specialty, my passion, my religion is Odesa cuisine. I’m committed to making Odesa cuisine as well-known and beloved as the city itself.
And most importantly: right now, all my energy is focused on fighting the prosecutor’s office and fending off corporate raids on my restaurant.
LDaily: How would you describe the current business climate in Odesa? Do you see signs of recovery, or does uncertainty still prevail?
S. Libkin: For me, the situation surrounding the restaurant Dachais the clearest indicator of the current business climate — not only in Odesa, but in the country as a whole. It’s obvious that the issue of private property rights in Ukraine remains unresolved. Property protection is still not a matter of state policy, but rather a personal responsibility for each individual owner.
LDaily: You invested around $2 million in creating the Dacha restaurant on the grounds of the former Chkalov Sanatorium. Since 2019, you’ve faced ongoing legal disputes over the property. What are the main claims from the prosecutor’s office, and how are you responding?
S. Libkin: This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Dacharestaurant. For the past five years, the prosecutor’s office has been trying to seize our private property. I mean exactly that — to seize it. This has been initiated at the level of the General Prosecutor’s Office and is being aggressively pushed by the regional prosecutor’s office. There are specific individuals involved in this — one from the General Prosecutor’s Office, another from the regional office.
Since they failed to confiscate the building itself, they’ve now joined forces with the management of the Chkalov Sanatorium. So at this point, we’re effectively being targeted by two state institutions at once.
And that’s not all. Just recently, under pressure from the prosecutor’s office, local police departments opened a criminal case against the director of my company — simply because the prosecutors demanded it.
I understand that the country is at war and the main focus is on the front lines. But under the cover of these circumstances, a redistribution of property is underway, and certain government officials are acting with complete impunity.
LDaily: How are the ongoing legal proceedings affecting the day-to-day operations of the restaurant and its staff?
S. Libkin: First of all, cars belonging to our guests are no longer allowed onto the premises of the Dacharestaurant — this is being enforced under direct orders from the sanatorium’s director.
Second, the criminal case was initiated based on a complaint from this same director, with active support from the prosecutor’s office. For now, visitors are still allowed to enter the premises on foot, but it feels like that’s only a matter of time. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
LDaily: What steps are you taking to protect your investments and business amid the ongoing disputes with state authorities?
S. Libkin: We’ve once again turned to the courts. Legal proceedings are ongoing constantly. We win — in trial courts, in appeals, and even at the Supreme Court. But the prosecutor’s office just opens a new case. It’s a vicious cycle. It’s clear they are trying to take away private property by any means necessary.
And I see the issue as much broader than my case. Unfortunately, this is a threat to the entire privatization system. If they manage to take the premises from me — despite years of legal battles, multiple court victories including at the Supreme Court, strong public support, and a solid legal team — what chance does the average small or medium business owner have?
LDaily: What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who might face similar challenges?
S. Libkin: If someone tries to take your property, I strongly advise: do not pay them. Instead, fight for your rights in court and bring the issue into the public spotlight. You have to fight to the end.
