Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Oleksandr Onyshchenko, who is wanted by Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies, has said Spanish prosecutors turned down a request to arrest and extradite him, the Kyiv-based Ukrayinska Pravda on-line edition has said.

"The court heard the arguments of the Ukrainian side and asked whether I agreed to voluntary extradition. I said no, because the case against me is politically motivated. The court deemed our arguments convincing and did not order me arrested," Ukrayinska Pravda quoted Onyshchenko as saying.

The edition was not able to produce a copy of the Spanish court ruling.

According to Onyshchenko, the hearing was held in the Audiencia Nacionale Madrid court and lasted 90 minutes.

Ukraine's parliament during the summer of 2016 voted to strip Onyshchenko of his immunity and gave permission for his arrest. The MP failed to appear in the parliament chamber.

Head of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said Onyshchenko, as the beneficiary of companies operating under Ukrgazvydobuvannia organized a criminal group with the aim of embezzling funds of the company.

Ukraine's parliament on July 5, 2016 approved lifting deputy immunity from Onyshchenko and authorized his arrest, but the deputy fled Ukraine. He was put on the national wanted list on August 8, 2016.