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Ukraine’s ex-prime minister laughs off ‘phony’ trumped-up criminal charges

Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office issued a subpoena to Azarov, who is currently residing in Russia, requesting that he show up for questioning on August 9

Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

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MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Nikolai Azarov, has been summoned to the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office for questioning in several days. Mr. Azarov has dismissed all charges brought against him as "thoroughly false."

To corroborate his opinion on the matter, he pointed to a recent interview with Ukraine’s former Minister of Industry, Eduard Stavitsky, who Azarov says, was prodded into making false depositions against his former colleagues.

Prosecutors promised to drop criminal charges against Stavitsky, if he cooperated with them to falsely testify, Azarov says on his Facebook page.

He recalls this is not the first time Ukrainian prosecutors have employed such gimmicks, "which are in fact unlawful and criminal."

"This shows the true worth of the criminal charges trumped up against me. They are all false through and through. The truth will triumph sooner or later, this is my firm belief," Azarov said.

Charges against Ukraine’s former prime minister

Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office issued a subpoena to Azarov, who is currently residing in Russia, requesting that he show up for questioning on August 9.

The subpoena says Azarov must appear at Prosecutor General’s Office "to participate in procedures regarding a criminal case dated January 31, 2013."

The Prosecutor General’s Spokeswoman, Larisa Sargan, said Azarov is to be questioned over "a matter in which a criminal organization under Viktor Yanukovich in 2010-2014 had acquired assets belonging to OJSC Ukrnafta and OJSC Ukragazdobycha, which were valued at 2 billion," However, the currency is not mentioned.

Azarov held the position of Ukrainian prime minister from March 11, 2010 to January 28, 2014. Following the ‘Euromaidan’ turmoil of February 2014 he left the country.

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