National Police opens criminal case over discrediting of Yatsenyuk for his resignation as PM
The National Police Ukraine has launched criminal proceedings due to interference in the activities of People's Front Party leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk for the purpose of his resignation as Ukraine's prime minister.
"After a series of reports in the media and appeals from people's deputies, the main investigation department of the National Police of Ukraine initiated criminal proceedings due to interference in the activity of Arseniy Yatsenyuk during his tenure as prime minister of Ukraine with the aim of preventing his activity and his subsequent resignation as head of government," the press service of the National Police reported on Friday.
Criminal proceedings were launched under Part 1, Article 344 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (interference in the activities of a statesman).
"In addition, investigators are considering the theory of the conspiracy of a group of people for the realization of this criminal plan. According to preliminary findings, they intervened by bribing citizens, organizing paid rallies and disseminating discreditable and false information in the media and through people's deputies, experts, others. According to Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, over $30 million was spent on such measures in 2015-2016 alone," the National Police said.
As reported, Onyshchenko is suspected of organizing the scheme to steal funds during the extraction and sale of natural gas as part of joint venture agreements with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, which caused about UAH 3 billion in losses to the state. The SBU also announced the launch of a pretrial investigation against Onyshchenko on the grounds of high treason.
In December 2016, Onyshchenko accused the administration of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of "buying" votes in parliament through him and several other MPs.
The Verkhovna Rada gave consent to prosecute, detain and arrest Onyshchenko on July 5, 2016. However, on the eve of voting, taking advantage of the status of a people's deputy, Onyshchenko left the territory of the state. He was placed on the national wanted list on August 8, 2016.
