SBI issues a notice of suspicion to two former forestry officials in the Zakarpattia district who caused the state approximately UAH 50 million in losses.

The SBI served a notice of suspicion to the former chief forester and head of the forestry district of the state enterprise Irshava Forestry, who allowed massive felling of trees.

According to the investigation, the former forest protection officers did not take sufficient measures to preserve forest plantations in the territory entrusted to them. As a result, massive illegal felling of trees of various species took place in 2020-2021.

Earlier, the SBI had already served a notice of suspicion of abuse of office to the former head of the forestry district.

He gave an illegal order to his employees to carry out the logging without any permits.

As a result, more than 5,000 trees of valuable species were cut down both in the area assigned to the official and in other areas. The illegally felled trees were subsequently sold. The environmental damage caused was over UAH 50.8 million.

The former officials were served with a notice of suspicion of gross negligence that caused grave consequences (Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The penalty under the article is imprisonment for up to 5 years.

The Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor's Office is providing procedural supervision.