Ukraine’s parliament has stripped a lawmaker accused of misappropriating more than $60 million of his immunity.
The Verkhovna Rada on July 5 voted separately three motions to allow Oleksandr Onyshchenko’s prosecution, detention, and arrest.
“The real fight against corruption has started in Ukraine,” Tetyana Chornovol, a legislator from the People’s Front party of former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said after the vote.
Onyshchenko, a former member of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych’s party, has fled Ukraine.
He said on Facebook that he was in Austria.
He added that he feared for his life, saying “a lot of people from the government would not be very happy if I spoke.”
Onyshchenko is charged in a 1.6 billion hryvnia ($64 million) natural gas fraud at state energy company PAT Ukrhazvydobuvannya.
Clamping down on corruption is a focus of Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman’s government, which took power in April after delays in tackling the problem sparked resignations within the administration and sparked criticism from voters and international creditors.
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
With ATACMS In Hand, Ukraine Looks To Neutralize Putin's Fortress In Crimea
2Some 400 Naturalized Russians Stripped Of Citizenship Under New Law
3Austin Calls On Countries That Have Patriot Air Defense Systems To Transfer Them To Ukraine
4Eyewitnesses Say Georgian Police Used Rubber Bullets In Crackdown On Protesters
5Kadyrov Appoints Son, 16, As Supervisor Of Special Forces School In Chechnya
6U.S. Weapons Are Coming To Ukraine. But Russian Forces Have The Momentum.
7Russia Breached Global Chemical Weapons Ban In Ukraine War, U.S. Says
8Duchess Sophie Visits Ukraine In First Trip By British Royal Since Start Of War
9As Telegram's Popularity Soars, Is It 'A Spy In Every Ukrainian's Pocket'?
10Live Briefing: Russia Invades Ukraine
Subscribe