On 27 May, the HACC found former head of the Main Department of the StateGeoCadastre in Vinnytsia region Yurii Kozak guilty of embezzlement and document forgery, which resulted in the unlawful transfer of especially valuable land plots into private ownership, bypassing proper procedures.
According to the investigation, acting in the interests of third parties, Kozak, in collusion with the acting director of the Bokhonytske Experimental Farm of the Research Center under the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, Oleksandr Bortnovskyi, illegally transferred 10 plots of land totaling 17 hectares and worth UAH 11.5 million into private hands. To conceal the embezzlement, Kozak instructed subordinates to replace documents in the electronic document management system. The trial lasted for over two years.
During the court debates, the prosecutor asked the court to find the defendants guilty and sentence Kozak to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of assets. She also requested that the proceedings against Bortnovskyi be closed due to his death and asked the court to remand Kozak into custody immediately in the courtroom.
A representative of the Cabinet of Ministers, acting as a civil claimant, requested that Kozak be ordered to compensate the state for damages equal to the value of the land.
The defense argued that the charges were unfounded and unproven, and requested Kozak’s acquittal, stating that the plots in question were not considered especially valuable land. According to the defense, Kozak exerted no influence on others and acted in compliance with land legislation.
Kozak supported his defense counsel’s position and insisted that he had acted within the law, denying the civil claim. He had previously refused to be released from liability for forgery due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, as he considers himself innocent.
The defense attorney of deceased Oleksandr Bortnovskyi argued that the alleged acquaintance and collusion between the accused were not proven, and that the entire prosecution was based on assumptions. He requested that Bortnovskyi be found not guilty.
The actions of Yurii Kozak and Oleksandr Bortnovskyi were qualified under Article 191(5) and Article 366(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The HACC sentenced Kozak to 8 years in prison with disqualification from holding public service positions and full confiscation of his assets for the embezzlement charge. For document forgery, he was fined UAH 4,250 and barred from holding public office for 1 year; however, this latter penalty was waived due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
Kozak's interim measure—bail of UAH 523,000—remains unchanged. The court also imposed additional obligations, including wearing an electronic bracelet.
The HACC upheld the civil claim filed by the Cabinet of Ministers, ordering Kozak to pay over UAH 11 million in damages.
As for the land plots that were unlawfully transferred into private ownership, the HACC ordered their special confiscation.
The proceedings against Bortnovskyi will be closed due to his death.