Ukraine agriculture and food minister released on bail following corruption allegations News
geralt / Pixabay
Ukraine agriculture and food minister released on bail following corruption allegations

Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky was released from custody on bail for UAH 75.7 million Friday amid accusations of involvement in a scheme to illegally acquire state-owned land.

A statement by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine further specified that the bail amount had been set by the High Anti-Corruption Court. The identity of the individual who posted bail for Solsky was not disclosed, and the Ministry further noted that he will continue to perform his duties as Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

Last week, the Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau reported that Solsky had been involved in a scheme to illegally acquire state-owned land worth $7 million between 2017 and 2021. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), investigations revealed that he collaborated with state officials to fraudulently acquire 2.500 hectares of land in Sumy, Ukraine. Furthermore, the scheme which currently involves 13 suspects, had successfully allowed the Minister to take possession of over 1000 land plots worth over UAH 291 million.

According to Suspilne, the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) had previously requested bail in the amount of UAH 200 million. Furthermore, after posting bail, Solsky will be required to report to a NABU detective and wear an electronic bracelet. Additionally, he is said not to leave Kyiv or communicate with any witnesses and was ordered to hand over his passport and any other relevant documents.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament), announced earlier last week on Thursday that Solsky had handed in his resignation in a handwritten note. This was later confirmed by Solsky, who previously had expressed maximum openness to establish the truth, in a shared statement with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. Stefanchuk further confirmed that Solsky’s statement will be considered by the Parliament at one of its next plenary sessions.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.