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Ukraine’s authorities want to have Yanukovich’s arrested assets in state budget

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook account on Wednesday

KIEV, January 14. /TASS/. Ukraine’s authorities will transfer arrested assets of former President Viktor Yanukovich to the country’s budget after the trial, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook account on Wednesday.

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Interpol issues Red Notices for former Ukrainian leaders, including Viktor Yanukovich

“Ukraine badly needs a prompt court ruling to have these funds transferred to the budget. A judgment by default will do, since it will be a fair judgment,” he wrote, adding that the Verkhovna Rada /parliament/ was to discuss amendments “removing bureaucratic obstacles” in organizing a trial in absentia against the former president.

According to Avakov, the sums under arrest exceed the yearly budget of Ukraine’s defence and interior ministries and the National Guard.

“Net of assets in the form of real estate and stakes in companies, monetary assets /money on operating accounts and highly liquid securities/ arrested by the Ukrainian law enforcers amount to two billion U.S. dollars abroad, and 1.8 billion dollars and six billion hryvnias /430 million U.S. dollars/ inside the country,” he wrote.

According to earlier reports, Yanukovich, his son and a number of other top ranking officials in Ukraine’s previous government, including the prime minister and several ministers, were put on a wanted list. The Interpol press service said Yanukovich is wanted on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement but not on office abuse and murder charges as was requested by Ukraine’s current authorities.

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