5 forestry officials will be tried for cutting down trees worth tens of millions of hryvnias

5 forestry officials will be tried for cutting down trees worth tens of millions of hryvnias shutterstock
Katerina Belousova

Perpetrators face imprisonment for 7 to 10 years

In Vinnytsia, the prosecutor's office informed 5 officials from the management of the forestry and hunting management district and Kryzhopol forestry of suspicion of exceeding their official powers, which caused serious consequences.

They are suspected of illegal felling of trees worth about 87 million hryvnias, the press service reports Vinnytsia Regional Prosecutor's Office.

If the court finds them guilty, the officials face imprisonment for a term of 7 to 10 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to three years.

"The pre-trial investigation is carried out by investigators of the fourth investigative department (located in Vinnytsia) of the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation, located in Khmelnytskyi. "Currently, the question of selecting preventive measures for the suspects and removing them from their positions is being resolved," the press service said.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in Lviv region the SSU exposed several officials from the forest farm, who earned on the appropriation and sale of high-grade wood in wartime conditions.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, a fish inspector from Odesa will be tried for systematic bribery, which the man demanded for fishing permits in the waters of the Shabolat estuary during spawning.

Related
Farmers are burning grass in the fields, and forests are burning. Why are foresters stepping up fire prevention measures?
Farmers are burning grass in the fields, and forests are burning. Why are foresters stepping up fire prevention measures?

Forest rangers are forced to extinguish fires in the fields to prevent the flames from reaching the trees

Just 850 UAH for a felled tree. Experts explain why fines aren't working
Just 850 UAH for a felled tree. Experts explain why fines aren't working

Activists are calling for higher fines and criminal penalties for violations

In the Carpathians, a forest containing valuable plant species is being cleared to build a power line to a wind farm
In the Carpathians, a forest containing valuable plant species is being cleared to build a power line to a wind farm

Unlike environmental activists, foresters did not notice any endangered plants there

Environmental crimes of the week: privatization of nature reserves, protection of primeval forests, pollution costing millions
Environmental crimes of the week: privatization of nature reserves, protection of primeval forests, pollution costing millions

Due to criminal conspiracies led by forestry officials, thousands of trees continue to be illegally cut down in Ukraine