ADVERTISEMENT

Court frees interior minister's son in graft case

Tuesday's arrest of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov's son Oleksandr sparked rumours of furious infighting among both the ruling elite and the Western-backed coalition now cautiously steering reforms through parliament.

The charges could see the 29-year-old and his two co-defendants jailed for up to 12 years if convicted of "embezzling, waisting or obtaining assets through abuse of power".

Ukraine's nascent National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) detained Oleksandr in Kiev and searched his home in the western city of Kharkiv on Tuesday in one of its highest-profile raids to date.

But Kiev's refused to remand Oleksandr in prison and instead ordered him to wear an electronic monitor and report to a judge if he wants to leave the Ukrainian capital.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I believe this case is completely politically motivated and has nothing to do with the rule of law," Oleksandr told the court after being let out of a glass cage in which he was placed at the start of proceedings.

The high-stakes case revolves around a 2015 government contract for the purchase of military backpacks that was awarded to a company controlled by Oleksandr's friend and co-defendant Volodymyr Lytvyn.

NABU believes Lytvyn's company sold the bags at inflated prices that cost the state 14 million hryvnias ($520,000 at current exchange rates).

The bureau's prosecutors accuse Oleksandr of being the middleman who illegally steered the deal toward his friend.

The sums involved are minor compared with other instances of state corruption that have littered Ukraine's post-Soviet history.

ADVERTISEMENT

But they have created a backlash from Avakov's People's Front party and put renewed pressure on NABU.

The People's Front and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's own bloc hold a slender majority in parliament that allows them to push ahead with institutional changes prescribed by the International Monetary Fund.

But Kiev media report frequent squabbles between Avakov and Poroshenko that threaten to splinter the ruling coalition and lead to early elections.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Woman saves animal from the streets — then she finds out it is something else

Woman saves animal from the streets — then she finds out it is something else

Alake calls on Badaru to fish out illegal miners, violators of mining laws

Alake calls on Badaru to fish out illegal miners, violators of mining laws

Divers find bodies of 2 people who drowned after Baltimore bridge collapsed

Divers find bodies of 2 people who drowned after Baltimore bridge collapsed

INEC rejects LP's National convention in Anambra, questions venue change

INEC rejects LP's National convention in Anambra, questions venue change

8 people including professor declared wanted over killing of 17 soldiers

8 people including professor declared wanted over killing of 17 soldiers

INEC to publish credentials of 17 Edo governorship candidates on Saturday

INEC to publish credentials of 17 Edo governorship candidates on Saturday

Hardship: Abiodun to begin sale of rice to Ogun residents at 50% discount

Hardship: Abiodun to begin sale of rice to Ogun residents at 50% discount

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT