A Ukrainian court has ordered Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi to be taken into custody to face allegations of his alleged involvement in an illegal acquisition of state-owned land worth about $7 million.
Solskyi denies the allegations, which relate to events in 2017–2021, before he started as agriculture minister in March 2022. On Friday, the judge set bail at 75.7 million hryvnias ($1.91 million).
Solskyi tendered his resignation on Thursday but technically remains in his post until parliament considers his request. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named him as the first known minister under suspicion in a corruption case.
The judge said that Solskyi would remain in custody until June 24. On Thursday, prosecutors told a court hearing that the allegations against him were punishable by up to 12 years in jail.
Solskyi was unavailable for an immediate comment.
Solskyi, 44, has been at the forefront of Ukraine’s effort to keep its grain industry going as Russia’s full-scale invasion has blocked Black Sea export routes, strewn fields with landmines, and occupied farmland.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has said the allegations relate to a scheme to acquire state-owned land worth 291 million hryvnia ($7.34 million) and trying to obtain land worth 190 million hryvnia ($4.78 million).
Prosecutors said that the alleged scheme illegally took the land from two state firms and transferred it to war veterans on the condition that they lease it to some private firms.
On Thursday, Solskyi and his lawyer told the hearing that he did not benefit from any such scheme.
Kyiv has applied to join the European Union, and Ukraine’s agriculture minister will be heavily involved in negotiations to integrate the country’s giant grain industry into the 27-member bloc.
A major Ukrainian farm union declined to comment on the Solskyi custody ruling.
Zelenskyy has tried to project a zero-tolerance line on corruption, and last year he replaced his defense minister after graft allegations about the defense ministry.
Solskyi tendered his resignation on Thursday but technically remains in his post until parliament considers his request. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named him as the first known minister under suspicion in a corruption case.
The judge said that Solskyi would remain in custody until June 24. On Thursday, prosecutors told a court hearing that the allegations against him were punishable by up to 12 years in jail.
Solskyi was unavailable for an immediate comment.
Solskyi, 44, has been at the forefront of Ukraine’s effort to keep its grain industry going as Russia’s full-scale invasion has blocked Black Sea export routes, strewn fields with landmines, and occupied farmland.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has said the allegations relate to a scheme to acquire state-owned land worth 291 million hryvnia ($7.34 million) and trying to obtain land worth 190 million hryvnia ($4.78 million).
Prosecutors said that the alleged scheme illegally took the land from two state firms and transferred it to war veterans on the condition that they lease it to some private firms.
On Thursday, Solskyi and his lawyer told the hearing that he did not benefit from any such scheme.
Kyiv has applied to join the European Union, and Ukraine’s agriculture minister will be heavily involved in negotiations to integrate the country’s giant grain industry into the 27-member bloc.
A major Ukrainian farm union declined to comment on the Solskyi custody ruling.
Zelenskyy has tried to project a zero-tolerance line on corruption, and last year he replaced his defense minister after graft allegations about the defense ministry.
Source: Reuters
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