Ukrainian Officials Say New Case Against Former Interior Minister

Yuriy Lutsenko

Officials in Ukraine say they have opened a new criminal case against a former interior minister, arrested on December 26.

Yuriy Lutsenko, who played a key role in the 2004 Orange Revolution, was detained while walking his dog in a dramatic operation involving a group of 10 special security officers.

Lutsenko had been under house arrest after being charged with abuse of power and taking possession of state property.

Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office spokesman Yuriy Boychenko told RFE/RL that Lutsenko was detained because he was taking too long to read court materials connected with his case.

The spokesman declined to discuss the new case against Lutsenko, only confirming that another criminal case had been opened.

A court in the capital, Kyiv, today ruled that Lutsenko should be detained for two months.

The arrest is the latest move in an ongoing probe into the previous government of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

with agency reports