Strange things are happening in Kyiv. In spring 2017, two prominent Ukrainian politicians — Mykola Martynenko, a former MP, and Roman Nasirov, former head of country’s fiscal service — were arrested on corruption charges to significant fanfare. Soon, however, both men were released: Nasirov on a bail of Hr 100 million (£2.9 million) paid by his wife, and Martynenko without any bail. While the cases remain under investigation, the two suspects are free to move.
OP-ED
Andreas Umland: Kyiv’s leadership is on its way to reinvent Ukraine’s patronalistic regime
Roman Nasirov, chief of Ukraine's State Fiscal Service, sits during a hearing at the Kyiv Court of Appeal on March 13. Special anti-corruption prosecutors accused the official of embezzling $74 million in state funds by abusing his official powers.
