Deputy director of national park in Mykolaiv left under investigation for extortion

In Mykolaiv region, a court remanded an official under investigation for extortion in the Sviatoslav Biloberezhzhia National Nature Park. The control conditions were set to prevent the suspect from hiding and influencing witnesses until the investigation is completed.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Ingulsky District Court of Mykolaiv.

The judge considered the prosecutor's motion to extend the suspect's duties, who served as deputy director of the Sviatoslav Biloberezhzhia National Nature Park. He is suspected of committing a criminal offense under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an unlawful benefit in a particularly large amount.

According to the investigation, the suspect acted in collusion with the park's director and the head of the financial and economic department. They organized a scheme to extort money from their subordinates, in particular by distributing roles in the group, concealing criminal activity and transferring cash through an intermediary. The officials demanded kickbacks from their subordinates' bonuses.

Since 2022, the park director, his deputy, and chief accountant have been demanding that ten employees give them twice the amount of their bonuses every month. Those who refused were threatened with dismissal or transfer to freelance work. Over two years, the management received more than UAH 5 million in this way.

The court ruled to extend the suspect's duties until August 19, 2025. In December 2024, the suspect was released from custody after posting bail in the amount of more than 180 thousand hryvnias.

In April 2025, the director of the Sviatoslav Biloberezhzhia National Nature Park was also released from the Mykolaiv pre-trial detention center after posting bail. The last episode of extortion for UAH 340 thousand was the basis for the arrest of the suspects in December 2024.

Анна Бальчінос