The National Police exposed a criminal group that illegally took possession of land near the Bukovel complex
The National Police of Ukraine notified about the exposure of a criminal group that illegally took over land near the Bukovel tourist complex. These are plots with a total area of 4.29 hectares worth more than 14 million hryvnias.
Representatives of local authorities, state registrars, notaries and impersonators were involved in the scheme. Using forged state acts of the 2001 model, they created the appearance of legal acquisition of land ownership.
Investigators of the Main Investigative Department of the National Police, with the support of the Department of Strategic Investigations, found out that in 2020-2023 the members of the group produced fictitious technical documentation, entered false information into the State Land Cadastre and the Register of Property Rights.
One of the organizers became a formal “ bona fide purchaser” and concluded three sales contracts with fictitious citizens, and the “original owners” they did not even guess that they were listed as the owners of these plots. In fact, the lands remained state property and are located on the territory of the Polyanytsky forestry of the Vorokhtyan forest farm.
The police conducted searches in the Ivano-Frankivsk and Rivne regions, seizing documents, media and other evidence confirming the involvement of the participants in the crime. The three defendants were charged with fraud (Part 2 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), as well as forgery and use of official documents (Part 2 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 358; Part 2 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). These articles are punishable by up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Investigation of other episodes of illegal acquisition of forest fund lands is ongoing. Procedural management is carried out by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
