In Ivano-Frankivsk region, officials of the Kutsk Forestry State Enterprise were served with a notice of suspicion of illegal deforestation worth UAH 250 million in the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park.
This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation.
As it became known, the officials, without any permits and approvals, issued documents for logging in areas that had not been under the jurisdiction of the forestry and belonged to the National Park for more than 20 years.
They sold the cut timber to the locals and then embezzled the money. This illegal activity lasted for several years and resulted in environmental damage worth almost UAH 250 million.
It is noted that the group, which was established in 2018, in addition to the head of the enterprise, included the acting chief forester, a forester and a forest protection engineer. They illegally authorized and ensured the felling of valuable trees of various species.
The members of the criminal group were informed of the suspicion of abuse of their official position and illegal felling and sale of trees on the territory of the nature reserve fund (Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 364, Part 3 of Article 27 3 of Article 28 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
It is reported that a petition was submitted to the court for the selection of preventive measures and a civil lawsuit for compensation for the damages.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, in the Chernivtsi region, the Putylsky forest farm reimbursed 3.3 million hryvnias for damages for illegal logging on the territory of the Zubrovitsa zoological reserve of local importance.
