The former head of Ukraine's State Emergencies Service, Serhiy Bochkovsky, has been officially notified that the country's authorities suspect him of committing a number of crimes, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told the 1+1 television station.

"Bochkovsky and [his deputy Vasyl] Stayetsky have already been notified of all accusations and all case files have been forwarded to a court. The Prosecutor General's Office supported our decision. Hopefully, the court will adopt an appropriate decision tomorrow," he said.

Avakov said 45 employees of the State Emergencies Service said they were ready to give their testimonies in this case. New charges of extortion and bribe taking will be added to the criminal proceedings, the minister said.