The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has permitted the detention and arrest of judge of the Economic Court in Odesa region Pavlo Medentsev.

A total of 260 MPs voted in favor of arresting the judge.

The parliamentarians then backed a motion to detain him, with 265 votes in favor.

President of Supreme Court of Ukraine Yaroslav Romaniuk said that Medentsev is suspected of taking a bribe worth UAH 570,000 in favor of a management entity.

Romaniuk added that Medentsev has been placed on the wanted list.

As reported, on May 29, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office reported that Romaniuk had backed and submitted to the parliament a presentation by prosecutor general Viktor Shokin, dated May 22, 2015, calling for the detention and arrest of Medentsev.

Media reports subsequently emerged stating that Medentsev was detained for taking a large bribe in 2014, however he disappeared and escaped justice.