The Carpathian National Park is not known for its high standards of nature conservation. Environmental inspectors have documented large-scale illegal logging, whilst off-roaders are causing damage in the upper reaches of the reserve. And whilst the public prosecutor’s office is demanding nearly 1 million hryvnias from the national park for failing to adequately protect valuable forests, its director drives an undeclared luxury car worth 7 million hryvnias and has nearly 1 million hryvnias in cash, despite a salary of 30,000 hryvnias.
Journalists from “Stop Corruption TV” have analysed the asset declaration of the national park’s director, Stepan Goshovsky, and plan to refer the matter to anti-corruption and regulatory bodies.
Industrial-scale illegal logging
Citing a recent report by the State Environmental Inspectorate, the publication reports significant breaches of the law within the Bystretsky and Voronenkovsky nature conservation and research divisions of the Carpathian National Park. The damage caused by logging without a special permit amounts to nearly 5.8 million hryvnias.
Source: “Stop Corruption TV”
Stepan Goshovsky, when asked by journalists about these damages, questioned the environmental inspectors’ data.
"Damages still have to be proven. You have no idea about the situation at all," said the park’s director.
Compensation for damages caused
Despite the distrust expressed by the Carpathian National Park director, supervisory authorities have documented the violations and calculated their financial impact.
Moreover, due to illegal logging on the territory of the Tatariv branch, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office is demanding that the Carpathian National Park pay almost UAH 1 million in damages. The forest was destroyed by "unidentified individuals," but as the permanent forest user, the national park was supposed to protect it from illegal logging.
Source: “Stop Corruption TV”
An additional UAH 1.5 million is being sought from the national park by the Nadvirna District Prosecutor’s Office. Two lawsuits have been filed over unauthorized logging. Prosecutors also insist that the administration of the Carpathian National Park failed to provide adequate protection for the site.
Destructive jeeping
The authors of the investigation assert that during Stepan Goshovsky’s leadership, the territory of the national park has consistently suffered from off-road vehicles. Large-scale, regular entry by SUVs and quad bikes is a recurring issue.
The authorities recognize that jeeping is a serious problem. However, according to journalists from “Stop Corruption,” the matter never proceeds beyond mere statements of concern.
The director’s reputation
The appointment of Stepan Goshovsky as the director of the Carpathian National Park was met with protests from staff. These rallies in September 2022 were covered by the media outlet Suspilne.
Journalists decided to analyze the official’s asset declaration and uncovered several questionable points.
- Lack of real estate. Stepan Goshovsky did not declare any real estate – neither owned nor rented. This violates legal requirements, which expect disclosure even of factual use of property.
- Cash reserve. According to the declaration, the head of the Carpathian National Nature Park has 930,000 UAH in cash. The official salary of the official does not exceed 30,000 UAH per month.
- Phantom car. Stepan Hoshovskyi indicated that he owns only an old UAZ car manufactured in 1994. At the same time, journalists have repeatedly spotted the national park director behind the wheel of a Lexus LX600 SUV with a market value of about 7 million UAH. In response to a “Stop Corruption” inquiry, Hoshovskyi answered that he was not aware of which car was being referred to.
Planned appeal to NABU
Financial discrepancies have become grounds for an appeal to the Ministry of Economy, under whose jurisdiction the national park falls. Deputy Minister Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi redirected journalists to anti-corruption agencies.
Therefore, “Stop Corruption” is preparing official requests to the relevant anti-corruption and supervisory authorities. All collected materials will be submitted for review.
EcoPolitic previously reported that in Volyn, a group of individuals are on trial for illegal logging on the territory of Kamin-Kashyrskyi State Forestry Enterprise. Among them is the former chief forester of the region.
