Land Market

On September 25, the government submitted draft law No. 2178 on the circulation of agricultural land to the Verkhovna Rada.

The draft law provides, in particular, for a ban on the purchase of land by companies whose ultimate beneficiary is a foreigner. However, it is temporary – until January 1, 2024. That is, land can be sold to foreigners, but not immediately with the introduction of the market, but after 4 years.

Foreigners who have been leasing land in Ukraine for more than three years can apply to buy it out. Large agricultural holdings – Ukrainian and foreign – that currently lease land also have the priority right to buy it out.

In addition, the percentage of land that can be sold has been reduced: from 15% to 8% within a region and up to 35% in communities.

A rally has gathered outside the parliament building, whose participants demand that the draft law on the land market not be adopted in the second reading. The protesters oppose lifting the moratorium on the sale of farmland to companies and foreigners.

The rally was organised by several political forces, in particular: the All-Ukrainian Union "Svoboda", the All-Ukrainian Union "Batkivshchyna", the "Agrarian Party" and the "National Corps". In total, according to the police, approximately 1.5-2 thousand people are taking part in the protest.