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Ukrainian PM holds Timoshenko responsible for UESU debt

Nikolai Azarov believes someone should be held responsible for the 405.5-million-dollar debt, whose payment is demanded by the Russian Defence Ministry

KIEV, October 14 (Itar-Tass) — Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov is of the opinion that the institution of new criminal proceedings against ex-Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko is well-grounded. He spoke about it in the Cherkasy Region on Friday.

“If the corresponding authorities instituted criminal proceedings, they had reason to do that. What were they expected to do? Do you think they should pretend not to see that the problem exists?” Azarov said. He believes someone should be held responsible for the 405.5-million-dollar debt, whose payment is demanded by the Russian Defence Ministry.

Timoshenko is accused of transferring the debt of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) to the Russian Defence Ministry, which amounts to 405.5 million dollars, to the state budget of Ukraine. New criminal proceedings were instituted against Timoshenko on the basis of a letter, forwarded by the Russian Defence Ministry to the Ukrainian cabinet of ministers, which raised the question of the payment of the UESU debt to the sum of 405.5 million dollars.

According to the information of the Ukrainian Security Service, charges were brought against Timoshenko on that case on October 12. Timoshenko headed UESU in 1995-1997. She said last June that she had no debts to the Russian Defence Ministry.

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