The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) has decided not to sign the protocol regarding the results of the electronic auction that took place on January 8 in the “Prozorro.Sales” system, concerning the sale of 460 hectares of land plots in the Borzhava meadow in the Zakarpattia region.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for Canceling the Auction Results
According to ARMA, during the verification process, it was established that the individuals who purchased these land plots have connections to Serhiy Lyovochkin, the former head of the administration of President Viktor Yanukovych. According to international asset recovery standards, the presence of signs of connection between the seller and the buyer is classified as unacceptable, as it may pose a risk of returning the asset under the control of previous owners.
“The information obtained during the verification indicates the presence of signs of connection, which under international asset recovery standards are considered unacceptable, as they may create a risk of effectively returning the asset under the control of former owners,” ARMA stated in its announcement.
Further Actions by ARMA and Law Enforcement Agencies
ARMA has already sent official requests to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) asking for a procedural assessment of the established connection. After receiving the relevant conclusions, the agency plans to reassess and organize a new competition for the sale of the specified lands.
The agency emphasized that the electronic system “Prozorro.Sales” guarantees transparency and competitiveness in the asset realization process, and ARMA is responsible for ensuring that assets do not return under the control of individuals involved in criminal offenses.