Ukraine Court Hears Motions In Graft Case Against Tax Chief
A court in Kyiv heard motions on March 6 in the corruption case against Roman Nasirov, Ukraine's tax and customs service chief.
Nasirov was suspended from his post on March 3 amid a graft investigation that marks a rare attempt to prosecute a senior official on suspicion of corruption.
A special prosecutor tasked with fighting corruption has sought Nasirov's arrest on suspicion of "abuse of office leading to serious financial losses," citing concerns that he could try to flee the country.
Nasirov's suspension came a day after the National Anticorruption Bureau (NABU) said it attempted to serve the 38-year-old, who was in a Kyiv hospital at the time, with a document identifying him as a suspect in the case of fraud and embezzlement of the equivalent of more than $100 million in tax revenues from natural-gas delivery contracts.
Soon afterward, Nasirov was transferred to an intensive care unit after suffering what a doctor said was a heart attack.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and AP
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council:
Handmade War Drones Take Off In Ukraine
Ukraine has had to build up an entire industry from scratch since the start of the conflict with Russia-backed separatists: the design and manufacture of military drones. (Current Time TV)
UPDATE FROM RFE/RL'S NEWS DESK:
Ukraine launched its case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on March 6, seeking an order to halt Moscow's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
In an opening statement at the highest UN court, lawyers for Ukraine accused the Russian government of making it "impossible for Ukrainian citizens to feel safe anywhere in their country."
The Briefing: Raising The Stakes In Ukraine
The Power Vertical Briefing is a short look ahead to the stories expected to make news in Russia in the coming week. It is hosted by Brian Whitmore, author of The Power Vertical blog. On this week's Power Vertical Briefing, he and guest Steve Gutterman look at Ukraine's case against Russia in the International Criminal Court in The Hague and the Ukrainian nationalist blockade of separatist-held areas.
