15 June 2017, Thursday, 17:01 135

U.S. Returns USD 500,000 To Ukraine In Embezzlement Case Against Justice Ministry Ex-Leadership

Редактор: Daria Zubkova

The United States has returned USD 500,000 to Ukraine in connection with the case involving embezzlement of public funds by the former leadership of the Ministry of Justice during conclusion of contracts with an American law firm.

Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko announced this on his Facebook page, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

According to Lutsenko, these funds were embezzled by the former leadership of the Ministry of Justice during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych and taken out of Ukraine through conclusion of a fictitious agreement on provision of services with an American company.

The Prosecutor-General's Office is continuing the pre-trial investigation of the relevant criminal proceedings.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the Prosecutor General's Office sent the indictment against former minister of justice Oleksandr Lavrynovych, who is suspected of embezzling UAH 8.5 million, to court in October 2016.

He is accused of embezzling state budget funds during unjustified and illegal procurement of services from the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP and Affiliates (United States) by the Justice Ministry. The ministry claimed that it needed to obtain legal assistance in preparing for the consideration of the "Tymoshenko vs. Ukraine" case at the European Court of Human Rights.