Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Suspected In Corruption Scandal
Faizan Hashmi Published April 23, 2024 | 02:40 PM
Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Apr, 2024) Ukraine's anti-corruption agency on Tuesday accused the country's agriculture minister of illegally appropriating state land worth more than $7 million between 2017 and 2021.
Several cases of corruption have emerged in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, although they have typically involved lower-level officials and been related to army procurement.
Kyiv has pledged to accelerate a crackdown on corruption as it strives for membership of the European Union.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on Tuesday that it had "exposed" a current minister for "taking over state land worth 291 million hryvnias ($7.3 million) and attempting to seize land worth another 190 million hryvnias".
Although it did not specifically name him, the statement makes clear the agency was referring to Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky.
The NABU alleged Solsky led a group that expropriated farmland in the northeastern Sumy region between 2017 and 2021, before he became a minister, by destroying documents that showed two state-owned companies had rights to use the land.
The group then got a state agency to transfer the rights to individuals connected to them under the guise of a government scheme for the use of agricultural plots, NABU said.
Solsky, who owned a number of farming businesses, was elected to Ukraine's parliament in 2019 and was appointed agriculture minister in March 2022.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said the case related to "a dispute" in which land had been handed over "in accordance with the law."
He promised "maximum openness" during the probe and said he believed courts, including the Supreme Court had already ruled that the companies from which the land was allegedly seized had no legal right to it.
The NABU said earlier that its agents had foiled the "criminal group" in its attempts to repeat the ploy for another 3,300 hectares of land worth almost $5 million.
The minister, along with his alleged co-conspirators, have been served official notices of suspicion, Ukraine's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor said on Tuesday.
Blighted by severe corruption scandals since the fall of the Soviet Union, Kyiv has pledged to boost its anti-graft efforts as part of its bid for EU membership.
President Volodymyr Zelensky last year sacked the country's defence minister over a series of corruption scandals in the army.\
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan marks World Press Freedom Day
High-level Saudi business delegation due on May 5
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
President approves Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024
Implementation of merit, justice to oppressed segments top priorities: CPO
Overseas Kashmir community delegation calls on AJK President, discusses latest s ..
Govt believes in freedom of press: Amir Muqam
Labour urges UK election after Tory losses
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services ..
Spain scraps national bullfighting prize sparking debate
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan visits Rawalpindi ..
ATC extends interim bail of PTI founder in 3 cases
More Stories From World
-
Dams strain as water, death toll, rise in south Brazil
24 minutes ago -
Rafah assault 'could lead to a bloodbath': WHO chief
24 minutes ago -
USA include former Kiwi all-rounder in T20 World Cup squad
44 minutes ago -
Spanish beauty group Puig makes market debut
44 minutes ago -
Israel trade freeze aimed at forcing Gaza truce: Erdogan
1 hour ago -
Debutant Tanzid powers Bangladesh win over Zimbabwe
1 hour ago
-
Panama to vote in presidential election with 8 contenders
1 hour ago -
Trump trial ends second week of combustible testimony
2 hours ago -
US campus protests wane after crackdowns
2 hours ago -
Nepal court orders limit on Everest climbing permits
2 hours ago -
Germany, Czech Republic accuse Russia of cyberattacks
2 hours ago -
Lunar mission good example of Pak-China cooperation in space exploration, research: Ambassador Hashm ..
3 hours ago