The SBI served notifications of suspicion to the organizers of illegal land privatization in a national park in Poltava region

The State Bureau of Investigation systematically fights abuses that harm the environment and national natural resources. The land of national parks is the property of the entire state, and every hectare must be returned to the people.

The employees of the State Bureau of Investigation, in cooperation with the National Police of Ukraine, served notifications of suspicion to two former heads of the Main Directorate of the State Geocadastre in Poltava region, the former head of one of the village councils in Poltava region and the head of one of the departments of the Pyriatyn City Council.

The investigation established that during the period from 2017 till 2021 the officials organized the illegal transfer of the lands of the Pyriatyn National Nature Park into private ownership.

With their assistance, 95 land plots with a total area of about 100 hectares were privatized by «citizens» and subsequently leased to a farming enterprise. The head of this enterprise was the above mentioned former head of the village council.

As a result of these illegal actions, the state suffered losses amounting to UAH 6.8 million.

Aiming to return the land plots to the state, 95 lawsuits have already been filed to the court. In nine of these cases, the court ruled in favor of the state, and the first 10 hectares of land were returned.

The former heads of the Main Directorate of the State Geocadastre in Poltava region and the former head of the village council have been served notifications of suspicion of abuse of office (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The head of the Pyriatyn City Council department has been served notification of suspicion of official negligence (Part 1 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The articles provide for up to 6 years of imprisonment.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor Office of the Office of the Prosecutor General.