Avakov: if illegal amber mining cannot be defeated, it must be led
The issue of legalizing the illegal mining and sale of amber requires a legislative settlement, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
This was stated today by Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov during a meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports.
“The issue of illegal mining and sale of amber requires legal regulation. This will clearly define the conditions for the legalization of the amber business, regulate and simplify permitting procedures, and strengthen criminal liability for illegal mining of minerals,” Avakov said.
According to the head of the National Police, Sergei Knyazev, an important element in resolving this issue could be the recognition of the amber regions of the northern regions of the state as areas of the economic development program.
“Rationing on this issue will have a positive impact on improving the crime situation. It will lay the foundations not only for the amber industry, but also for other industries, and will help attract additional investments. The state will begin to make a profit. At the same time, effective control over the state of land reclamation will be ensured, which will avoid environmental consequences,” Knyazev noted.
According to him, in order to prevent illegal elements from entering the amber mining zone, 14 checkpoints have been set up and 7 police stations have been established. This allowed for an appropriate response to reports of illegal mining.
“The police have launched almost 300 proceedings regarding the illegal extraction of amber. More than 260 people were brought to criminal liability. About 7 tons of stones were seized, the cost of which on the black market ranges from $30 million,” Knyazev said.
The State Geological Resources Department indicated that the legalization of amber mining will cost Ukraine UAH 20-30 million.
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