This is the first major corruption case against a minister in President Volodymy Zelenskyi’s government.
Mykola Solsky has been Minister of Agriculture in Ukraine since March 2022.
He has been an important politician in the country, with responsibility for the export of grain and other agricultural products in the middle of a war.
Serious accusations
The Ukrainian anti-corruption police NABU accuses the 44-year-old of illegally obtaining access to agricultural properties worth around NOK 80 million.
This must have taken place in the period 2017-2021, i.e. before he became a minister.
IMPORTANT EXPORTS: Grain provides great value to Ukraine even during the war.
Photo: Reuters
The properties from two state-owned companies are said to have first been transferred to war veterans.
They should then have been leased to private companies, writes the Reuters news agency.
The Minister of Agriculture rejects the accusations, and says that he has not profited from what has happened.
On Thursday, Solsky was determined to continue until further notice.
– If the parliament accepts my resignation, I will be grateful for such a decision. If it is decided that I will continue, I will, stated the Minister of Agriculture.
UNUSUAL: President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has now received the first major corruption case against a minister in the government.
Photo: AFP
But in the morning hours on Friday, a court issued an arrest warrant and after a short time Solsky was detained. The judge set a bail amount of NOK 21 million.
According to AFP, he will be held in custody until June 24. The minister risks up to 12 years in prison.
Important for the country
Solsky has had several important tasks as Minister of Agriculture.
He has tried to keep as much grain export as possible via the Black Sea.
Although exports have decreased, they have provided very important foreign exchange to Ukraine during the war.
BLACK SEA ROUTE: A ship is to be loaded with grain in the port of Odesa.
Photo: AFP
Grain has also been exported via ports along the Danube.
Some agricultural exports have also gone by rail to neighboring countries.
Solsky has also worked to curb a blockade that Polish farmers and truck drivers set up on the border between the two countries.
Corruption and the EU
President Zelenskyy attaches great importance to the fight against corruption.
It is connected to the fact that the EU requires concrete results in order to proceed with Ukraine’s application for membership.
On Transparency International’s corruption index, Ukraine has done better in recent years, but the country is still one of the most corrupt in Europe.
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Tags: Corruption charges Ukrainian Minister Agriculture Solsky NRK Urix Foreign news documentaries
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