Speaking in Warsway during an official visit on Jan. 11, Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych denied claims by opposition politicians and human rights activists that government critics have been singled out for prosecution.
According to National State Radio, Lavrynovych said criminal investigations of former officials, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, involve misuse of public funds.
Lavrynovych also dismissed accusations that the government had cracked down on free speech. "it can not openly express their views in the media. He proposed to take any Ukrainian newspaper or watch any Ukrainian tv channel to realize that such statements are not true."
Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka on Jan. 12 is expected to testify in parliament about his investigations leading to the arrests of over a dozen members of the former government, which former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko headed from 2007-2010.
