Fugitive MP Derkach appropriated protected land in Kyiv worth UAH 595 mln - SBU

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered a large-scale scheme to appropriate lands of Kyiv’s nature reserve fund worth over UAH 595 million. Former MP Andriy Derkach, who is suspected of high treason and is hiding in Russia, is involved in organizing the deal, the SBU reports.

"It has been established that during his parliamentary term until 2019, the suspect appropriated 41.5 hectares of protected land in Kyiv. This represents almost 50% of the total area of this nature protection zone," the SBU informed on its Telegram channel on Thursday.

According to the agency, the suspect involved accomplices who at that time held the positions of head of the Obukhiv district department of Derzhkomzem and head of the Obukhiv district state administration.

"To seize the land of the reserve fund, the participants of the deal forged land management documentation and entered false data into the State Land Register of Ukraine," the report emphasizes.

The SBU notes that the suspects tried to legalize the scheme.

"For this purpose, after numerous divisions, mergers, and resales, the land plots were registered in the names of relatives and acquaintances of Derkach and his accomplices," the agency specifies.

Based on the collected evidence, SBU investigators notified all 3 suspects of suspicion under 2 articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 5 of Art. 191 (appropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure of it by abuse of official position, committed on an especially large scale by an organized group) and Part 3 of Art. 209 (legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means).

Currently, as reported by the SBU, 1 of the organizers of the deal—the former head of the Obukhiv district state administration—has been detained.

"Since Derkach and his accomplice—the former head of the Obukhiv district department of Derzhkomzem—are hiding outside Ukraine, they have been notified of suspicion in absentia," the Ukrainian special service emphasizes.

Comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring them to justice. The investigation was conducted under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine.