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Ukraine’s minister confirms criminal proceedings against him - media

"I understand, the checking refers to all deals related to purchases of coal. They will also check the coal from the South African Republic and the agreements on it,” Yuri Prodan said

© TASS/EPA/BERND VON JUTRCZENKA

KIEV, November 8. /TASS/. Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri Prodan confirmed the Prosecutor General’s Office had begun criminal proceedings against him.

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Ukraine’s prosecution begins criminal investigation of energy minister - agency

The minister commented on the situation to Ukraine’s UNN agency.

“I cannot say, what the case is about. I realise the prosecutors are inspecting state-run Centreenergo Company, how and how much coal was bought. I understand, the checking refers to all deals related to purchases of coal. They will also check the coal from the South African Republic and the agreements on it,” the minister said.

“Ukraine’s biggest concern now is that it has a permanent inflow of coal from alternative suppliers, even if that coal is slightly more expensive than the Russian one,” he said. “The major task is to avoid delays with coal supplies to Ukrainian heat stations, as the stock is critical. We should have several alternatives sources not to depend on one supplier, as we know what it may come to.”

Ukraine’s UNN reported earlier on Saturday referring to its own source, investigators would interrogate the minister under a criminal case.

“A meeting of the Ukrainian Council for National Security and Defence on November 4 ordered investigators to open criminal proceedings and to interrogate Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuri Prodan. The criminal case is on embezzlement, misappropriation or taking possession of the property by abuse of office,” the agency’s source said.

The source said during the weekend the investigators will prepare all necessary paperwork to file an application to the court, so that it issued a warrant.

“The minister’s interrogation is due on Monday, November 10, and, possibly, by that time could be in place a warrant to arrest Yuri Prodan,” the source said.

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