Ukraine prosecutors seek arrest of former justice minister

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine submitted a request on July 30 to a Kyiv court ordering the arrest of former Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych, who served in the administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych. The criminal charges against Lavrynovych are misappropriation of funds and abuse of authority. In particular, he is accused of spending USD 1.1 mln in state money in the hiring of a foreign law firm to help disguise legal violations committed by law enforcement authorities and courts in the prosecution and imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Lavrynovych’s deputy minister has also been named a suspect in the same criminal case but was released on bail. Prosecutors are asking the court to set bail for Lavrynovych at UAH 1.2 mln (USD 0.06 mln).

In his turn, Lavrynovych said the charges are politically motivated, with the goal of making him a suspect in having fulfilled political orders, which had been otherwise done legally. He said he had been questioned in the case for more than a year.

Zenon Zawada: Unfortunately, what we have with Lavrynovych’s arrest – and what will likely be his release on bail – is the latest show orchestrated by the current government against cherry-picked representatives of the Yanukovych administration. It bears all the markings of other made-for-television shows, such as the arrest of Oleksandr Yefremov for charges that are trivial compared to his other alleged crimes. Incredibly enough, Yefremov is incarcerated. But the prosecution has yet to begin even for the trivial charges, let alone for his widely suspected role in backing the Donbas terrorists.

The Ukrainian public, down to the common villager, is well aware of the government’s political show and not the least bit impressed with the Lavrynovych episode, particularly after the flight of Serhiy Kliuyev, someone far more influential. Everyone is well aware that Lavrynovych is unlikely to be convicted, let alone be incarcerated. If the government doesn’t want support for radicals like the Praviy Sektor to continue swelling, it needs to cut out this charade.