The SBI has served notifications of suspicion to officials of the forest industry in Zakarpattia, who organized illegal logging worth more than UAH 2 million

The SBI employees, in cooperation with the National Police of Ukraine, have served notifications of suspicion to the forester of one of the forestries of the Volovets forestry and to the Head of the department of a specialized forest protection enterprise, whose actions caused losses to the local community of more than UAH 2.1 million.

The forester informed the direction that pests were allegedly bred in one of the plots on the territory of the forestry, which caused diseases and death of the plants. Based on the obtained information from the specialist, a commission was created in the forestry to establish whether sanitary felling should be carried out in this area.

In fact, the trees were quite healthy and there were no threats to vegetation on the plot. The plot was inspected in February, although according to the rules, the forest should have been surveyed during the leafy period to establish whether the pests had affected the trunk and leaves.

The forest pathologist from the commission, in collusion with the forester, persuaded other members of the commission to write in the Inspection Report that the wood was affected by diseases and pests. Based on that information, 289 healthy trees of various species were cut down. The environmental damage caused by such actions exceeded UAH 2,1 million.

The forester and forest pathologist were served notifications of suspicion of abuse of office committed by a group of persons (Part 1 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the Article provides for imprisonment for up to 6 years.

The petition to elect for the suspects the preventive measures and remove them from the performance of the official duties has been sent.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Zakarpattia Region Prosecutor's Office.