(AP) – Ukrainian prosecutors have detained a senior military official for allegedly taking a 2.5 billion hryvna ($800,000; 416,000 euros) bribe, the Defense Ministry said Nov. 11.
Colonel Oleksandr Voloshyn, head of the Defense Ministry’s construction department, was detained Nov. 10 at his working place and prosecutors opened a criminal case against him, the ministry’s press office said. Defense officials refused to give any other details.
President Viktor Yushchenko has made fighting corruption, which thrives in this ex-Soviet republic, a key priority.
Since he came to power in January, thousands of local officials, including judges and prosecutors, have been dismissed on suspicion of taking bribes.
In February, the Defense Ministry launched an investigation into Voloshyn’s work-related activities and issued him a formal warning in May, the press office said, giving no further details.
