36.5 hectares of protected land within the Synevyr National Nature Park were unjustifiably removed from state ownership. These actions are in serious violation of environmental protection legislation and pose a threat to the unique ecosystems of the Carpathian region.

It has been established that these lands became the communal property of the Synevyr Village Council as a result of improper performance of duties by an official of one of the territorial divisions of the Main Department of the State Land Agency in Zakarpattia Oblast. He failed to check the technical documentation received and registered the plot within the National Park as agricultural land in the State Land Cadastre. This was despite the fact that they legally belonged to the nature reserve fund.

As a result, in 2020, the Main Department of the State Land Cadastre in Zakarpattia Oblast unjustifiably withdrew the lands of the nature reserve fund from state ownership and transferred them to municipal ownership.

A former officer of the State Land Agency has been notified of suspicion of official negligence, which caused serious consequences (part 2 of Art 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Under the procedural supervision of the Khust District Prosecutor's Office of Zakarpattia Oblast, police investigators No. 2 of the Khust District Police Department are continuing the pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings. All those involved in the criminal scheme are being identified.

It should be added that, within the scope of their representative powers, prosecutors appealed to the court to return the protected lands to their legal user, the Synevyr National Nature Park. The court agreed with the arguments of the Prosecutor's Office and upheld the claim in full. Currently, in accordance with the court decision, the lands have been returned to state ownership.