Ukraine appeals court order to pay Russia UAH 3.2 bln

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers appealed a decision by Kyiv’s Economic Court that ruled Ukraine must pay UAH 3.2 bln (USD 0.4 bln) in connection with United Energy Systems of Ukraine’s failure to deliver goods pursuant to a contract, which was guaranteed by the Ukrainian government, Interfax reported yesterday. The Russian Defense Ministry filed the lawsuit on September 10, 2012 and cited Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers and the State Treasury Service as defendants in the case. A second criminal case is pending against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko over the alleged embezzlement of USD 0.4 bln in state funds by UESU, which she headed in 1995-1997.