Volyn: scheme of illegal seizure of water fund lands worth UAH 8.3 million during privatization exposed

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have uncovered a case of illegal privatization of water fund lands in the Lutsk district of Volyn. As a result of these actions, the state budget suffered losses of more than 8.3 million hryvnias.

The investigation revealed that the scheme’s organizer was the head of the enterprise, who had previously served as a deputy to the regional council. He created a mechanism for alienating water fund lands into private ownership with the help of front persons. Five land plots were formally transferred to service members who were entitled to receive land, but the servicemen themselves did not participate in this scheme, and their data was used without their knowledge.

After all the procedures, the organizer, who involved the then head of the Main Department of the State Geocadastre in the Volyn region and a deputy of the district council in the scheme, became the ultimate owner of the plots. All participants shared roles and used their official powers.

A person from the district council who coordinated the agricultural commission’s work was familiar with land distribution mechanisms, identified five service members, and organized the preparation of documentation for them. Specialists from a commercial enterprise also joined the scheme, who, having created land management projects, did not require the presence of the military.

Applications for land plots were submitted to the State Geocadastre on behalf of fictitious persons within the Boratyn community. The investigation established that the State Geocadastre official was aware that some of the plots were located within the coastal protection strip of the Styr River and were not subject to privatization, but signed orders for their allocation.

As a result, five plots totaling 2 hectares each were illegally privatized, causing significant financial losses to the state. The participation of service members and the state registrar is being verified.

The actions of the participants in the scheme are classified under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including abuse of office. The incriminated articles provide for a penalty of up to six years in prison.

Preventive measures have already been selected for two suspects, and a petition for a preventive measure for the entrepreneur has also been filed with the court. A civil lawsuit is being prepared to recover illegally alienated lands and return them to state ownership.

The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case in the Field of Defense of the Western Region.