Position: deputy of the Velikokuchuriv village council.
Sphere of corruption: land issues.
Region of corruption activity: Chernivtsi region.
Qualification: actions are qualified under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
The plot of the case: in early July 2025, a deputy of the Velykokuchuriv village council in Bukovina was exposed for facilitating the privatization of forest fund lands and causing UAH 1.8 million in losses to the state. The deputy heads the local land department. According to the village council website, this is Heorhiy Verdenyuk.
As reported by the Prosecutor General's Office, the deputy of the Velykokuchuriv village council, who heads the land relations department of the village council, did not inform the deputies during the village council session that the issue concerns the distribution of forest fund lands to private ownership. This concerns 5 plots that are in the use of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". In the end, the village council adopted a decision that allowed the forests to be illegally removed from state ownership. As a result, the state received UAH 1.8 million in losses.
Investigators informed the head of the land department of suspicion of abuse of office, which entailed grave consequences under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court chose a preventive measure for him and removed him from office.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: no information is available from open sources about potential accomplices.
Assets: in his 2024 declaration, Verdeniuk indicated that he owned only two land plots in Velyky Kuchuriv; he did not declare any other real estate.
Verdenyuk also declared his income, namely, he received 412,232 in wages this year. The official did not indicate any monetary assets.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies should have responded to Verdenyuk's criminal activities in a timely manner by charging him with suspicion.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, he was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
https://zaxid.net/deputat_silradi_na_bukovini_spriyav_privatizatsiyi_zemel_u_lisi_n1614561
https://www.loqal.com.ua/news/deputat-silradi-na-bukovini-spriiav-privatizaciyi-zemel-u-lisi-9Z2P
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/5e63e2bb-4587-40d6-83f8-48ce1425958f