The investigation of the "gas case" against MP Oleksandr Onyschenko will be completed by the end of this year, and conviction in absentia could apply to him, Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Artem Sytnyk has said.

"First cases we had launched are in courts or almost in courts. If we had managed to detain Onyschenko, this is one of the first cases… In fact, we have reached the final stage. I think that this year depending on the place of staying of the main suspect there will be conviction in absentia or we will send the case to court," he said in Kyiv on Saturday.

He said that earlier on Friday an important person in the case was detained.

"I think that the case is almost finished. The only thing is that we do not have the main suspect. I hope that Interpol would make a positive decision [and put Onyschenko on the international wanted list]," he said.

Onyschenko is suspected of organizing a scheme to steal money from the natural gas production and sale projects with Ukrgazvydobuvannia, resulting in around UAH 3 billion in losses to the state.

The Ukrainian parliament has authorized his arrest and prosecution. However, Onyschenko, using his parliamentary status, fled Ukraine.

On August 8, he was placed on the national wanted list.

On October 19 NABU said that Interpol within 30 days would decide whether or not to declare Onyschenko international fugitive from justice.