Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko regards as political pressure the judicial dispute between Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk and the State Fiscal Service (SFS), which is investigating the case on the full payment of taxes by the minister.

"The case of the finance minister is investigated by the State Fiscal Service, and this is a problem, since Mr. Danyliuk is the head of the SFS [the State Fiscal Service is managed by the Finance Ministry]," Lutsenko told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday, January 17.

"Moreover, he is simultaneously suing the SFS, being its leader. Is there any political pressure? Yes, there is," he added.

According to him, Danyliuk has already received a second postponement before sending this case to court.

"Why was he given a postponement until March? This decision was actually made by the SFS in December," he said.

Lutsenko also said that if Danyliuk paid taxes in the UK, he must provide a certificate in court.

"He does not provide such a certificate, although you understand that anyone who pays taxes can get it fairly quickly. I would like Danyliuk to either provide a document that he paid taxes in the UK or pay these taxes in Ukraine. This approximately UAH 500,000," Lutsenko said.