Prosecutors Challenge Acquittal of Former Park Director
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) is appealing the acquittal of a former director of a national park in the Chernivtsi region. The prosecutor is preparing an appeal against the February 12, 2026, ruling by the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), which found the official not guilty of receiving $65,000 in illegal benefits. This case is part of Ukraine's ongoing, high-stakes judicial reforms aimed at rooting out corruption.
Investigators established that the former director received the money from a businessman in exchange for resolving an issue regarding the lease of three land plots totaling 0.48 hectares for a recreational facility. The director was apprehended on October 9, 2024, immediately after signing the lease documents and receiving the funds.
The court concluded that the official's actions did not constitute a criminal offense under Part 4 of Article 368 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. However, the SAPO prosecutor disagrees with this interpretation and intends to argue the state's case in the appellate court.
The Critical Fight Against Corruption
This case underscores the vital importance of combating corruption in Ukraine, particularly in the management of the nation's protected natural resources. The acquittal has provoked public outrage among activists and citizens who argue that corrupt acts in such sensitive areas must be met with strict legal consequences.
SAPO's appeal demonstrates the state's commitment to holding officials accountable for corruption-related offenses and to maintaining public trust in the country's anti-corruption institutions.