Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, who was placed on the wanted list by the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, has denied reports that he applied for German citizenship.

"Bankova [Street in Kyiv, where Ukraine's Presidential Administration is located] has begun to prepare the ground for stripping me of Ukrainian citizenship. A DW journalist issued a false news story that I applied for German citizenship," he wrote on his Facebook page on Monday, November 6.

According to him, the documents mentioned by the mayor of the village of Herzlake in the article concern a work permit in Germany, rather than the citizenship procedure.

"I applied for a working visa at the German embassy, which would give me an official right to do business in Germany. The burgomaster sent a letter of recommendation to the embassy, and the journalist invented the ultimate goal... In order to obtain German citizenship, one should first get a residence permit and then live in Germany for five years," Onyshchenko said.

On November 6, Germany's Deutsche Welle news agency, citing the burgomaster (mayor) of Herzlake, Hans Bosken, reported that Onyshchenko was applying for German citizenship. According to Bosken, Onyshchenko filed the necessary documents several months ago. The burgomaster said that he had appealed to the authorities in writing, noting the outstanding role Onyshchenko has played in Herzlake.

Onyshchenko is suspected by Ukraine's law enforcement agencies of organizing a scheme to steal funds during the extraction and sale of natural gas as part of agreements on joint activities with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, leading to about UAH 3 billion in losses to the state. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said it had launched a pre-trial investigation against Onyshchenko over high treason.

On July 5, 2016, Ukraine's parliament approved lifting deputy immunity from Onyshchenko and authorized his arrest, but the deputy fled Ukraine. He was put on the national wanted list on August 8, 2016.