BYT to demand report from SBU acting chief about detention of energy customs official, says Tymoshenko

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko believes that the detention by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of the deputy head of the department of energy customs of the State Customs Service, Taras Shepitko, is a display of corruption in the top echelons of power and intends to demand his release.

"This is a demonstrative punishment by the president and his pocket services of the people, who have spoken against the corruption. Today, the BYT faction will demand the report from SBU Acting Head Valentyn Nalyvaichenko," she told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday before leaving on a working visit to France.

According to the Ukrainska Pravda internet-newspaper, about 2200 on Tuesday night, the Security Service of Ukraine detained the deputy head of the department of energy customs of the State Customs Service, Taras Shepitko. BYT MP Andriy Portnov said in an interview with the Ukrainska Pravda that the SBU actions where illegal as SBU leadership was trying to hush up RosUkrEnergo's activities.