The Prosecutor General reported on ex-MP Derkach’s scheme to seize 23 land plots near Kyiv.

A large illegal land scheme involving former MP Andriy Derkach has been uncovered in Ukraine

Ukrainian law enforcement officers have uncovered a large-scale scheme of illegal appropriation of 41.5 hectares of protected land in Koncha-Zaspa near Kyiv, involving former MP of the Party of Regions Andriy Derkach. He is currently a senator in Russia. This was reported by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and the Security Service of Ukraine.

The investigation established that in 2010, Andriy Derkach, using his political connections, organized the illegal appropriation of 23 plots of forest fund land. In collusion with the then head of the Obukhiv District State Administration and an official of the State Land Committee, they arranged the documents in such a way that the land plots seemingly belonged to the neighboring village council of Obukhiv District. This allowed them to bypass the Kyiv City Council’s authority and transfer the land into private ownership.

To execute the scheme, 23 straw persons were involved, in whose names the plots were registered allegedly for personal farming. Over eight years, the land was legalized through fictitious resales, ultimately ending up in the ownership of individuals linked to the organizers of the machination.

The official who held the position of head of the Obukhiv District State Administration has been arrested. He has been charged with misappropriation of property on a particularly large scale and money laundering. Two other figures are abroad and are planned to be put on international wanted lists.

The Security Service of Ukraine has already filed a petition in court to arrest the property of the suspects and related individuals. This situation highlights the importance of fighting corruption and illegal land appropriation in Ukraine, which can have long-term consequences for national security and the economy.