More than 76 hectares of state-owned land near the salt lakes in Solotvyno, Zakarpattia Region, were unlawfully removed from the use of a state enterprise. In the case, five officials have been notified of suspicion.
This is reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
According to the investigation, after new boundaries were established, the land area of the state salt-extraction enterprise was reduced from 135 to 59.3 hectares. As a result, more than 76 hectares of state land fell outside its use.
In this area, more than 460 separate land plots were formed, some of which were later transferred into private ownership.
Among the suspects are the former head of the settlement council, officials of the state enterprise and the district state administration, a state cadastral registrar, and the director of the company that prepared the land management documentation.
According to the criminal case materials, they ensured the preparation and approval of documents on the basis of which the land plots were classified as reserve land of the settlement council. This, investigators say, created an opportunity for the subsequent registration into private ownership of plots formed from state land.
Expert examinations have already confirmed the illegality of allocating part of the land with a total area of 1.2 hectares. The legality of the registration of the remaining plots is currently being checked.
This concerns the area around Solotvyno’s salt lakes, which has recreational and resort significance. The water and лечебні грязі of the lakes are characterised by high mineralisation. Holiday facilities are already located on part of the land.
Depending on their role in the case, the suspects are accused of abuse of office, official forgery, and unauthorised actions involving information.
Investigators are currently checking the legality of the formation and transfer into private ownership of all more than 460 land plots, as well as changes to their designated purpose. Expert examinations are ongoing and possible involvement of other individuals is being established.
The Prosecutor General’s Office reminds that, under Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven by a court’s conviction.