A Ukrainian court on Friday ordered that Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky be kept in custody over allegations of his alleged involvement in an illegal acquisition of state-owned land worth about $7 million.
Solsky denies the allegations, which relate to events in 2017–2021, before he started as agriculture minister in March 2022.
The judge set bail at 75.7 million hryvnias, an equivalent of $1.9 million.
Solsky had earlier tendered his resignation on Thursday, but technically remains in his post until the parliament considers his request.
He is the first known minister under President Volodymyr Zelensky to be named as a suspect in a corruption case.
The judge said that Solsky would remain in custody until June 24, but prosecutors told a court hearing earlier on Thursday that the allegations against him were punishable by up to 12 years in jail.
READ ALSO:Â Court orders arrest of ex-national institute DG, Prof Hamalai
Solsky was unavailable for an immediate comment.
Solsky, 44, has been at the center of Ukraine’s effort to keep its grain industry going as Russia’s full-scale invasion has blocked Black Sea export routes, strewn fields with landmines, and seen farmland occupied.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has said the allegations relate to a scheme to acquire state-owned land worth 291 million hryvnia and trying to obtain land worth 190 million hryvnia.
Under the alleged scheme, the land was illegally taken from two state firms and transferred to war veterans on the condition they lease it to some private firms, prosecutors said.
Solsky and his lawyer told the hearing on Thursday that he did not benefit from any such scheme.
Kyiv has applied to join the European Union, and Ukraine’s agriculture minister will be heavily involved in negotiations to integrate the country’s giant grain industry into the 27-member bloc.
A major Ukrainian farm union declined to comment on the Solsky custody ruling when reached by a journalist.
Zelensky has tried to project a zero-tolerance line on corruption and last year replaced his defense minister after graft allegations pertaining to the defense ministry.
Credible news.ng
