In Ukraine, they are uncovering the case of machinations with state lands iRADIO

Ukraine’s anti-corruption office suspects Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky in connection with machinations with state land. In a statement published on social media, he said that Solskyj headed a criminal group that illegally acquired hundreds of hectares of land worth a total of 291 million hryvnias (174 million crowns). The minister offered maximum cooperation to the authorities.

Kyiv
2:08 p.m April 23, 2024

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Ukrainian flag in Crimea | Photo: Baz Ratner | Source: Reuters

According to the anti-corruption agency NABU, the members of the group also included employees of the Ukrainian Real Estate Cadastre. They are suspected of having destroyed the documents on the basis of which two state-owned enterprises in the Sumy region in the north of Ukraine had the right to permanently use land. These were subsequently transferred to the ownership of predetermined people under the pretext of exercising their right to free land.

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In this way, between 2017 and 2021, the group took possession of land with a total area of almost 2,500 hectares, which at that time had a value of over 291 million hryvnias. According to the anti-corruption agency, the transfer of almost another 3,300 hectares was prevented.

“The organizer of the scheme, the current minister, two employees of the State Land Registry and the person who facilitated the crime were served with a Suspicion Notice,” NABU said.

Solský’s name is not directly mentioned in the statement, but the organizer of the group is described as “the former head of the agrarian committee of the Verkhovna Rada”. Solskyj, a former agricultural entrepreneur, held this position before becoming the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Industry in March 2022.

In a statement on his ministry’s Telegram account, Solsky said that the allegations presented to the media do not relate to the period when he held the positions of minister or head of the agrarian committee. According to him, the courts have already started dealing with the disputed land transfer.

“I guarantee maximum openness to find out the truth, but this is not necessary – all data is accessible to law enforcement authorities and the evidence and arguments of the parties are assessed by the courts,” said Solskyj.

Solsky would be the first known minister under President Volodymyr Zelensky to be named by law enforcement authorities as a suspect in a corruption case, Reuters recalled.