Dynamics of Payments to the Rivne Region Budget Increased 4–7 Times After Harshening the Punishment for Illegal Amber Mining — Head of Oblast Military Administration

Currently, eight enterprises in the Rivne region work actively in the legal amber mining field, which significantly affects the dynamics of payments to the budget. Vitaliy Koval, Head of Rivne Oblast Military Administration, made this statement during the briefing in Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform.

“Until 2019, I often heard that the Rivne region was a land of illegal amber. In 2019, thanks to the initiative of the President Zelenskyy, a law was adopted on legalization and criminalization of liability for illegal amber mining. I believe that we have crossed the no-going-back line. Today, amber mining is illegal from the point of criminal liability, as it may carry up to 8 years’ penalty. And earlier, until 2019, it was just an administrative violation with a UAH 3,400 fine. Eight enterprises actively operate within the framework of the law. Over the past war year, we received UAH 10,400,000 of direct income from rent payments; other than taxes, only rent. 61 auctions were held, and UAH 101,000,000 was paid to the state budget for the right to use the leased land plots. For some types of payments, the dynamics is 4–7 times,” Vitaliy Koval said.

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