The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service has confirmed that Verkhovna Rada deputy Serhiy Kliuyev attempted to flee the country through Boryspil airport in Kyiv on Wednesday, June 3.

"We do confirm the fact that people's deputy Serhiy Kliuyev intended to fly to Vienna at about 1:00 p.m. yesterday but was not allowed to pass by Ukrainian State Border Service officers," Oleh Slobodian, a spokesman for the Border Service, said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.

Slobodian refused to give the reason why Kliuyev was barred from leaving Ukraine, explaining only that Border Service officials "acted within the limits of their powers, and the reason was indicated in a writ" that Kliuyev refused to take.

He said at the same time that the Border Service is not entitled to issue such writs itself and acts in such instances in coordination with other law enforcement bodies.

It was reported earlier that the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday gave its consent to Kliuyev's prosecution on suspicion of committing crimes.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin had submitted formal requests to the Verkhovna Rada on May 12 to deprive unaffiliated parliamentarians Kliuyev and Serhiy Melnychuk of their immunity against prosecution on suspicion of having committed a number of crimes.

In particular, Shokin said at a press conference that Kliuyev was suspected of "fraud" and "expropriation, misappropriation, or seizure of property through abuse of office."

While the investigation did not insist on Kliuyev's immediate arrest, the crimes of which he is suspected carry more than 10 years' imprisonment if he is found guilty, the prosecutor said.