No confirmation of ex-chief financial inspector Hordiyenko's allegations of govt corruption – deputy prosecutor general
Investigators have found no evidence that confirms the statements of the former head of the State Financial Inspectorate of Ukraine Mykola Hordiyenko alleging that UAH 8 billion had been embezzled by members of Arseniy Yatseniuk's government, First Deputy Prosecutor General Volodymyr Huzyr has said.
"The figure of nearly UAH 8 billion has not been confirmed yet. Forensic audits are being held to probe these allegations, but experts currently do not fully agree with the amount previously announced by the auditors," Huzyr said while speaking during an hour of questions to the government in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.
He also dismissed the statements made by the head of the working group investigating the allegations, Boryslav Bereza, that the prosecutor's office is preventing the working group from performing its duties.
MP Serhiy Vlasenko (Batkivschyna), in turn, said that the first deputy prosecutor general had no right to flatly deny any evidence of corruption, as the investigation into twelve criminal cases launched under Hordiyenko's allegations is ongoing.
On Friday the Verkhovna Rada voted down the decision to extend the deadline for the working group to investigate the corruption allegations. At the same time, Rada Speaker Volodymyr Groysman said that he would still sign a resolution to prolong the group’s work.
As reported, Hordiyenko accused the government of corruption in March. Yatseniuk asked the Prosecutor General's Office to probe the allegations. Hordiyenko was dismissed as the country's chief financial inspector on April 4 following a government-initiated check on his activities
A working group was established in April to probe Hordiyenko's allegations. The deadline for the working group to investigate possible corruption in the government expired on May 7. On May 12, head of the working group Bereza said that Groysman had refused to extend the deadline. After that, it was decided that the group would report to parliament on the results of its investigation on Friday, after which the parliament would decide on further steps.
