Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko, who fled embezzlement charges in Ukraine earlier in July, is in the United Kingdom.
Onyshchenko told Strana.ua news website on July 29 that he was in the UK seeking asylum as a political refugee. He also said he was going to contest the charges against him in London court.
The lawmaker with Volya Narodu (People’s Will) faction left Ukraine five days prior to the Verkhovna Rada’s scheduled vote to strip him of immunity and allow his arrest took place on July 5. Initially, the Ukrainian authorities said that Onyshchenko flew to Moscow.
In Ukraine, Onyshchenko is accused of embezzling money through Ukrgazvydobuvannya, a state-owned gas trader.
According to investigators at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, employees of Ukrgazvydobuvannya who conspired with Onyshchenko allowed the sale of gas at cheap prices to intermediary companies associated with Onyshchenko, who then resold it at market prices.
The losses inflicted on the state amount to Hr 3 billion ($120 million). The investigators arrested at least 10 people suspected of participation in the scheme allegedly controlled by Onyshchenko.
Onyshchenko denies the charges. He told the Ukrainian media that he has already filed the documents for political asylum in the UK claiming that the charges against him were fabricated.
Onyshchenko said that his lawyers would inform Ukrainian authorities about his legal and actual address in the UK. He also said that he would participate in the investigation but only via the British jurisdiction.
Head of Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office Nazar Kholodnytskiy said that Onyshchenko would be soon put on the international wanted list.
Onyshchenko was a long-time member of the executive board at the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine and participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The charges have ruined Onyshchenko’s plans to compete in the equestrian sport in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games that take place in Rio in August. The Olympic Committee of Ukraine dismissed the lawmaker from the national team.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Savchuk can be reached at [email protected]
