Land of Hryshko Botanical Garden was transferred for residential development in violation of the law – State Audit Service
11 January 14:14
During the audit of budget programs implemented by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and its institutions, the State Audit Service found financial irregularities in the activities of the National Botanical Garden named after M.M. Hryshko.
This was reported by Kommersant Ukrainian with reference to the State Audit Service.
According to the agency, despite a direct legal prohibition, the land plot of the botanical garden at 1 Sadovo-Botanichna (formerly Timiryazivska) Street in Kyiv was included in an investment agreement. The agreement provided for the construction of residential and non-residential facilities, part of which was to be allocated to the botanical garden.
However, for six years, the developer was unable to implement the project due to the special security regime for the botanical garden. At the same time, the institution received various types of assistance from the investor: cash, goods, and services (including tulip bulbs and soil) worth a total of UAH 2.6 million.
The M.M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden is a part of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine. It is protected as a national treasure and belongs to the lands of natural, historical and cultural designation. According to the Law of Ukraine “On the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine” (Article 16), any activity that does not meet the designated purpose of the reserve, including the construction of structures not related to its functioning, is prohibited.
As a reminder, Ukrainians may be deprived of the right to land for the construction of fortifications on it.
