The main investigation department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry has opened a criminal case against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and pro-Kremlin oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote this on his Facebook page.
“The main investigation department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry has opened a criminal case against Russian citizens S.K. Shoigu and K.V. Malofeyev on the grounds of committing a criminal offense,” Avakov wrote.
The minister said that following a check conducted by the Interior Ministry in the period from March 2014 until present, illegal armed groups operating in the Donbas had been formed with the support of Russian Defense Ministry officials.
These formations, under the command of Russian citizens, carry out armed attacks on the state authorities, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard, enterprises and organizations, which resulted in numerous casualties and destruction.
The investigation showed that Russian Defense Minister Shoigu and oligarch Malofyeyev, who said in an interview that he maintained friendly relations with leaders of terrorists Igor Girkin and Alexander Borodai, could be involved in these acts.
“The main investigation department of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry is currently taking measures envisaged by Ukrainian law in order to engage citizens S.K. Shoigu and K.V. Malofeyev in participation in investigative measures. If these persons do not arrive [for questioning] investigators will be obliged to take action for their forceful delivery to the place of summoning. Then the courts may choose a measure of restraint against them in the form of detention, and they could be put on the wanted list,” Avakov said.
ap
23.07.2014 12:41
