The newly signed Law “On Amendments to the Civil Code of Ukraine to Strengthen the Protection of the Rights of Bona Fide Purchasers” introduces clear legal timeframes within which law enforcement agencies may file claims against entrepreneurs suspected of acquiring land unlawfully. This measure is expected to curb arbitrary legal actions and foster greater legal predictability for investors.
Crucially, the law also defines a list of assets to which the protection of bona fide purchasers does not apply — ensuring transparency and reducing uncertainty in high-risk categories. Another key provision guarantees compensation for investors if a court ultimately rules to return an asset to the state, offering an added layer of protection for businesses operating in good faith.
Since the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, land privatization — particularly involving state- and municipally-owned plots — has often been mired in legal ambiguity. Land-related disputes remain among the most common triggers for criminal investigations targeting businesses.
Under the new law, such investigations by law enforcement agencies are now limited to a 10-year period from the moment the land was transferred to private ownership, and must be supported by substantive evidence of wrongdoing.
