Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, in collusion with officials of the Pension Fund of Ukraine, through 2008-2014 received an illegal extra pension worth UAH 585,000, Ukraine's Interior Ministry has reported.

"The Shevchenkivsky district office of the Main Directorate of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Kyiv allocated a pension to Azarov without reason. As a result, Azarov received an extra pension worth UAH 585,000 in the period from 2008 to 2014," reads the statement issued by the press service of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine, posted on Tuesday.

The ministry's main investigative department is conducting a pre-trial investigation under a criminal proceeding over part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement of property). The stipulated punishment is a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, the individual will be barred from occupying certain positions or conducting certain activity for up to three years, and will have his property confiscated.