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Ukraine’s ex-transport minister beaten and robbed by unidentified men

KIEV, February 21. /TASS/. Ukraine’s former Minister of Transport Iosif Vinsky was assaulted by unidentified men in black uniforms who beat him up and robbed his house, a spokesman for the Kiev region police department said on Sunday.

"Several unidentified men in black uniforms broke into his house’s backyard and beat him up as he tried to stop them. Then he was dragged into the house. His wife was forced to lay face to the floor and plundered the house for 30-40 minutes," the spokesman said, adding that Vinsky was taken to hospital with two ribs broken.

The plunderers stole about 100,000 hryvnias [about $3,700 under the current exchange rate] and gold jewelries.

A criminal case was opened on plunder charges carrying a punishment of from eight to 15 years in prison. "We are taking effort to identify the criminals," the spokesman said.

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