Suspicion of corruption

Ukraine: Minister resigns after allegations

Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi is suspected of corruption.

(Bild: www.viennareport.at)

Events in Kiev are now coming thick and fast. Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi, who was suspected of corruption, resigned from his post on Thursday. A short time later, the 44-year-old was placed in custody. He is the first minister under President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to be named as a suspect in a corruption case.

According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Solskyj appropriated state-owned land worth millions. Together with others involved, the ex-chairman of the agricultural committee took possession of 1,250 plots of land covering an area of almost 2,500 hectares, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said on Tuesday.

Land from state property
According to the information, land plots belonging to a state-owned company in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine were transferred to new owners between 2017 and 2021. Solskyj's agricultural holding then received these for use. In addition to the minister, employees of the cadastral office are also suspected of corruption. The attempt to appropriate more than 3200 hectares was prevented.

Minister rejects accusations
On Wednesday, the minister denied all allegations, but at the same time admitted that he had acted as a lawyer in 2017 and 2018 in a dispute over land between state-owned companies and individuals. Court proceedings are still pending. "From my side, I guarantee absolute transparency in establishing the truth," the lawyer wrote.

Solskyj was elected to the Supreme Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, in 2019 in the early parliamentary elections initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi via the list of the presidential party. The lawyer chaired the Agriculture Committee from 2019 until his appointment as Minister of Agriculture in March 2022.