Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Resigns Amidst Allegations of Misappropriation of State-Owned Land

Mikola Solski, the Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine, tendered his resignation on Thursday 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. In response to the accusations, Solski confirmed his resignation through the Ministry of Agriculture’s official channels, stating it was the “correct step” given the situation.

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’s resignation comes amidst an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings surrounding the 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.