In the Lviv region, two forestry officials have been charged with the destruction of over 20,000 trees
In the Lviv region, law enforcement officers from the National Police’s Special Investigation Department have notified the chief forester and acting headof the chief forester of the Skole subsidiary forestry enterprise ‘Galsillis’ in a case concerning the large-scale destruction of forest in the Stryi district.
According to the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police in Lviv Oblast and the State Bureau of Investigations, between 2019 and 2023, officials issued logging permits for the felling of so-called ‘sparse woodland’.
The investigation notes that Ukrainian legislation does not provide for this type of felling. Despite this, such felling was approved and included in the organisation’s forestry management plans.
According to law enforcement, this effectively legalised the large-scale destruction of forest stands in the Stryi district.
As a result of these actions, according to the investigation, over 20,000 trees were destroyed. The damage caused to the state is estimated at over 112 million hryvnias.
On the basis of the evidence gathered, both suspects were notified of their status as suspects under Part 4 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which concerns illegal logging.
Pre-trial measures have now been imposed on the suspects. The penalty under this article provides for up to seven years’ imprisonment.
The Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the criminal proceedings.
At the same time, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and confirmed by a court conviction.
