Rada strips MP Onyschenko of immunity, gives consent to his arrest
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has supported the request by Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko to give its consent to criminal prosecution, detention and arrest of MP Oleksandr Onyschenko of the People's Will parliamentary group.
The parliament on Tuesday voted separately on three positions: for criminal prosecution of Onyschenko - 275 votes, for his detention – 265, and for his arrest – 263.
Onyschenko was absent from the parliamentary session hall.
According to media reports, Onyschenko is currently in Russia.
As reported, on June 16, Lutsenko signed a request to the Verkhovna Rada to arrest MP Oleksandr Onyschenko.
Lutsenko said Onyschenko while being a member of parliament had full control over the three operators of Ukrgazvydobuvannia – Nadra Geocenter LLC, Khas LLC, and Karpatnadrainvest LLC.
The formation and management of a criminal organization by Onyschenko is evidenced by the fact of Onyschenko's participation in a criminal organization made of the founders of Nadrageocentre LLC, Khas LLC, Karpatnadrainvest LLC, where he was the main beneficiary, the prosecutor general said.
Lutsenko said that Onyschenko created the criminal group with the participation of a number of other people, including representatives of Ukrgazvydobuvannia in order to gain possession of the company's funds. The group illegally took hold of UAH 1.613 billion, he said.
The prosecutor general said that Onyschenko's actions fall under Article 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement of property through abuse of office), Article 205 (creation of sham companies) and Article 255 (creation of a criminal organization) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.