In Cherkasy region, the SBU blocked illegal activity by local authorities. Officials planned to alienate land plots worth over UAH 10 m. (USD 370,400), which are located near the historical and cultural center named after Reb Nachman (Hasidic pilgrimage destination).

SBU officers established that the organized group included a public registrar of amalgamated territorial community in Cherkasy region, former law enforcement officers and businessmen. They forged decisions of local
self-governments and illegally registered the property rights to land.

Businessmen managed to privatize almost 0.5 hectares of land near the historical and cultural center. Currently, due to the SBU actions, the issue of returning land into state ownership is being resolved.

Five organizers received suspicion notices of:

• fraud committed on a particularly large scale, or by an organized group;
• criminal offence committed by a group of persons, a group of persons upon prior conspiracy, organized by a group or a criminal organization;
• forgery of documents, seals, stamps or letterheads, and sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps;
• excess of authority or official powers.

The pre-trial investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out jointly with the National Police investigators and under the supervision of Cherkasy Region Prosecutor's Office.