Director General of “Forests of Ukraine” detained: Bolokhovets bought property worth UAH 10.4 million

21 July 13:27

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has served a notice of suspicion to Yuriy Bolokhovets, CEO of the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine, in the case of illegal enrichment. According to him, this is one of the key figures in a large-scale anti-corruption case in the forestry industry.

“One of the key figures in the forestry sector, the Director General of the state enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, has been exposed. He is a category A civil servant. And this status carries a special responsibility,” Ruslan Kravchenko said during a briefing on July 21.

The investigation found that in 2021, when the suspect held the post of head of the State Forestry Agency, he acquired assets worth more than UAH 10.4 million, which is significantly higher than his official income.

“Among them is an apartment in Kyiv worth more than UAH 9 million, registered to a straw man, but actually used by the suspect,” the Prosecutor General said.

According to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, the difference between the official’s legal income and the acquired property is UAH 7.9 million.

Kravchenko said that the suspect was detained, and the pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

“Today he has been served a notice of suspicion of illicit enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine),” added Ruslan Kravchenko.

The Prosecutor General also emphasized that this case is just one of dozens of criminal proceedings related to the activities of the Forests of Ukraine enterprise.

“We work systematically. The work is ongoing,” the head of the PGO summarized.

The State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” commented on the situation around the General Director Yuriy Bolokhovets, whom law enforcement officers suspect of possible abuse.

The company’s statement emphasizes that the investigation’s version is not based on proven facts, but only on assumptions that have been repeatedly refuted with reason and documentation.

“The seizure of data storage devices, phones, and computer equipment did not confirm any violations of the law by Yuriy Bolokhovets,” the commentary emphasized.

Forests of Ukraine also noted that all of Yuriy Bolokhovets’ assets were declared in accordance with the law, and the properties leased by his family belong to real owners with confirmed income and were acquired legally.

The company attributes the situation around the head of the company to his principled position on the introduction of transparent market mechanisms for timber sales and the systematic fight against shadow schemes in the forestry industry.

“The pressure on Yuriy Bolokhovets is directly related to his efforts to de-shadow the market and his unwillingness to return to old corrupt practices,” the state enterprise summarizes.

As a reminder, the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” is a key state operator in the field of timber harvesting and sale. In recent years, the company has repeatedly been at the center of scandals related to corruption, illegal logging, and shady schemes.

Who is Yuriy Bolokhovets?

Yuriy Bolokhovets is a Ukrainian specialist in the field of forestry, civil servant, CEO of the state enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” since October 6, 2023.

Education

He has a degree in forestry. He graduated from the National Agrarian University in 2005 with a degree in forestry.

Career

2004-2006 – worked as a leading specialist state inspector in the structures of the State Department of Ecology and Natural Resources in Kyiv region.
2007-2011 – forestry engineer and forester at the subsidiary Ichniarayagroforestry.
2011-2012 – Director of the State Enterprise “Pryluky Forestry” (Chernihiv region).
2012-2020 – Director of the State Enterprise “Nizhyn Forestry”.
2020 – Head of the Chernihiv Regional Forestry and Hunting Department.
2020-2021 – Deputy Head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.
2021-2023 – Head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.
Since May 2023, he has been temporarily acting as Director General of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”.
October 6, 2023 – officially appointed Director General of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”.