The case of former minister Solsky has been sent to court: what is known about the evidence
15 January 14:23
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have referred to court a case involving large-scale misappropriation of state-owned land, in which former Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky is implicated. This was reported by the NABU press service, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
NABU does not name names, but it is clear from the text of the message that it is referring to Mykola Solsky.
The case concerns the activities of an organized group which, according to the investigation, illegally removed thousands of hectares of land in the Sumy region with a total value of over UAH 280 million from state ownership and attempted to seize another 3,200 hectares.
What are the charges?
According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the criminal scheme operated in 2017-2021 and involved employees of the territorial bodies of the State Geocadastre, as well as persons who actually controlled their work.
According to the investigation, the group’s members ensured the destruction of documents confirming the right of permanent use of land by two state-owned enterprises in the Sumy region. After that, officials of the regional State Geocadastre drew up acts of alleged unauthorized occupation of land plots.
Subsequently, these lands were transferred to private ownership to predetermined individuals under the guise of exercising the right to free privatization. A key condition was that the new “owners” signed lease agreements with a private agricultural holding company even before receiving the plots.
The scale of the scheme
According to NABU, as a result of the scheme, 1,250 land plots with a total area of 2,500 hectares were illegally appropriated. Their value at the time of the crime exceeded UAH 280 million.
In addition, the group members attempted to take possession of another 3,244 hectares of land worth over UAH 195 million, but these actions were stopped thanks to searches and seizure of the plots by NABU detectives and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
Who is involved in the case
Although the official law enforcement report does not mention any names, the investigation materials indicate that it is Mykola Solsky. In April 2024, NABU already reported on his exposure for seizing state land worth about UAH 291 million.
The case also involves:
- Deputy former Minister Markiyan Dmitrashevich;
- former head of the State Geocadastre Oleksandr Kolotilin;
- a total of 12 suspects.
Preventive measure and political consequences
On April 26, 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a preventive measure on Mykola Solsky in the form of detention with an alternative bail of over UAH 75 million, after which he was released.
On May 9, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to dismiss Solsky from the post of Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
