The government must devise rules for mining amber, having given the right to Ukrainians to engage in this activity, and provide security, head of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"I am categorically against the illegal mining of amber. But, on the other hand, looking at the problem from the point of view of Interior Ministry chiefs, I demand that this business be legalized," Lutsenko said during a press conference in Zhytomyr on Friday.

The PGO chief said there were two attempts to legalize amber mining: a bill was drafted and blocked by the parliament majority, and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine authorized two state enterprises to engage in this activity.

"As far as I know, these enterprises have not begun operation yet and illegal amber mining activities continue," the PGO chief said.

"I look at the government as if it were operating in the California gold rush. It should take simple steps. The last thing should be there sheriff shooting. A shot in the air for first-time violators, followed by a shot in the forehead," Lutsenko said in jest.

According to the PGO chief, the [authorized] government enterprises must provide "tickets for the right to mine amber at certain sites, and to local residents who mine amber." He added that people today are paying bandits, but will be less to state enterprises.

Lutsenko also said there is a need for security at amber mining sites to eliminate banditry. He also said amber mining activities require the necessary machinery, which will extract amber in an industrial way and allow for the re-cultivation of areas where it is mined.