Former Regional Governor In Ukraine Found Dead
A former governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region has been found dead with a gunshot wound to his throat, the latest in a string of violent deaths of officials with ties to ousted leader Viktor Yanukovych.
Police officials said Oleksandr Peklushenko, governor of the southeastern region from 2011 until March 2014, most likely committed suicide.
Suicide Or Homicide? In Ukraine, Old-Guard Officials Dying Mysteriously
They said his body was found in his home in the town of Sonyachniy near the regional capital, Zaporizhzhya, on March 12.
Peklushenko, 60, was a member of Yanukovych's Party of Regions and formerly represented it in parliament.
Yanukovych fled to Russia after he was ousted in February 2014 by pro-European protests known as the Euromaidan.
At least six officials or ex-officials with links to Yanukovych's government have died this year in cases ruled probable suicides, but the victims' political allegiances and job histories have fueled suspicions of foul play.
Zaporizhzhya borders the Donetsk region, which is partially held by Russian-backed rebels whose conflict with government forces has killed more than 6,000 people since April.
Based on reporting by UNIAN and pravda.com.ua
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Ukraine's finance minister says Kyiv on March 13 will begin talks with its creditors on restructuring its debt.
Natalie Jaresko, in remarks quoted by her spokeswoman, said on March 12, "We will start talks tomorrow with our creditors on a restructuring."
Jaresko did not specify which debt might be restructured.
Ukraine's creditors include Russia, which owns $3 billion in Ukrainian eurobonds, out of the total $17 billion issued by Kyiv.
Jaresko's announcement came a day after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $17.5 billion loan program for Ukraine to stave off a threatened default.
The IMF said $5 billion will be disbursed immediately, but said successful debt restructuring would be "a key consideration" for the payment of further tranches.
Part of the IMF package will go toward stabilizing the national currency, the hryvnia, which lost more than two-thirds of its value against the dollar over the past year amid Ukraine's conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the east.