In Cherkasy oblast, the SSU exposed a scheme of unlawful use of state-owned land.

The abbess of a convent in Uman Diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church is involved in its organization.

For 10 years, she illegally leased over 40 hectares of farmland that the state had provided to the nuns for farming.

The ‘tenant’ of the monastery’s land was the owner of a local agricultural enterprise.

Every year he paid the abbess tens of thousands of UAH in cash for the illegal use of the convent’s land.

According to the investigation, the ‘parties’ did not enter into any contracts, and all ‘settlements’ were made exclusively based on verbal agreements.

This allowed the farmer to pay amounts that were significantly lower than market prices and evade taxes.

Based on the SSU’s investigation, a lawsuit has been filed with Cherkasy Region Commercial Court demanding to terminate the lease agreement with the religious institution and return the land to state ownership.

The investigation into fraud (under Article 190.1 of the CCU) is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Cherkasy region exposed the offence jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Uman District Prosecutor’s Office.