On Thursday, Mikola Solski, the Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine, resigned following allegations of misappropriation of state-owned land worth 5 million euros. The President of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, announced that Solski’s resignation letter had been received and a decision would be made during upcoming sessions of Parliament.
The Anti-Corruption Office accused Solski of misappropriating nearly 2,500 hectares of state-owned land in northern Ukraine while he was practicing as a lawyer in a company that received the land for use between 2017 and 2021. The office requested preventive detention on bail of 4.7 million euros for Solski, who has maintained his innocence, referring to the events as a “dispute” between state companies and individuals that occurred seven years ago.
Solski confirmed his resignation through the Ministry of Agriculture’s official channels, calling it the “correct step” given the situation. He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support and cooperation during his time in office.
The resignation of Solski comes amidst ongoing investigations and legal proceedings surrounding alleged misappropriation of state-owned land. The situation has garnered significant attention within Ukraine and raised concerns about corruption within the agricultural sector. As Parliament considers Solski’s resignation, the future leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture remains uncertain.