The trial began in 2017, when three residents of the village of Brustury challenged the decisions of the district administrations of Tyachiv and Rakhiv regarding the “Svydovets tourism and recreational complex” – a controversial project with ties to Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky. The court has now ruled that the legal requirements for transparency and public participation were not met during the public planning process.
If the 1,430-hectare mega ski resort had been approved, it would have had massive, long-term impacts on the pristine landscape, old-growth forests and natural river courses of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The local communities would have lost their land. The economic viability of the project was also highly questionable.
The ruling sets a promising precedent and is extremely important for the Ukrainian civil society. However, there is still much to be done, as the surrounding areas of Bystrytsia and Turbat are also at risk. Two more ski resort projects with links to Igor Kolomoisky and his business partners are in the planning stage.
Oreste del Sol, a member of the Free Svydovets Group and the Longo maï cooperative in Ukraine, stated: “This victory confirms the integrity of the Ukrainian judiciary and represents another important building block in the reform of environmental legislation so that Ukraine can join the European Union and promote sustainable development in the Carpathians. As long as the unique area of Svydovets is not protected by national law, our peaceful resistance will continue. We continue to call on all international bodies to join us in supporting Ukrainian civil society in its quest for greater climate justice.”
Read more about the Svydovets, Bystrytsia and Turbat mega ski resorts and the protection of the Ukrainian Carpathian forests in our latest investigation report "The Great Carpathian Land Grab".
Press contact:
Ines Gavrilut
ines.gavrilut@bmf.ch, +41 61 316 3078
Additional information:
- English translation of the court ruling
- Report “The Great Carpathian Land Grab”.