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Criminal case on corruption charges opened against Ukraine’s ex-minister — lawmaker

"What is most important now is to see to it that Shevchenko doesn’t flee, like all other bribetakers," lawmaker Oleh Layshko wrote on his Facebook account

© AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

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Chief of Ukraine’s emergencies service, his deputy arrested during Cabinet meeting

KIEV, August 7. /TASS/. Ukraine’s police have opened a criminal cases against former Minister of Ecology Igor Shevchenko who was sent to resignation by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), lawmaker Oleh Lyashko said on his Facebook account on Friday.

"Criminal proceedings on charges of illicit enrichment have been initiated against ex-minister Shevchenko dismissed for corruption. I have been summoned to the interior ministry for interrogation as witness," he wrote.

He posted a summons letter. "I will go without fail. What is most important now is to see to it that Shevchenko doesn’t flee, like all other bribetakers," Layshko wrote.

Shevchenko was sent to resignation by the Verkhovna Rada on August 2 after a relevant request from the government. Shevchenko’s resignation was initiated by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who accused the former minister of "violating the norms set for a state servant, in particular through making foreign trips during the working time."

Later, Shevchenko accused the Ukrainian prime minister of being tied to oligarch clans, nepotism, corruption and attempts at political lynching.

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