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Ukrainian officials are conducting more than a dozen criminal investigations that may be related to a 54-year-old former Ukrainian president.
Last week, the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) reported that Poroshenko was suspected of “issuing a clear criminal order” and “inciting the official … to exceed his authority.”
Investigators have not released further details of the investigation, but Poroshenko says the case is related to the appointment of Ukraine’s deputy director of foreign intelligence in 2018.
This case is the first in which Mr. Poroshenko has been officially named a suspect.
He denies his fault.
Hundreds of Poroshenko supporters gathered in Kiev at the Pechersk district court on Thursday. Many of them chanted the name Poroshenko.
Poroshenko, who is currently a parliamentarian, has spoken to his supporters, including members of his party, calling pressure on him “revenge against worthless people.”
Prosecutors were expected to demand Poroshenko’s arrest, but called for other preventive detention measures that would prevent the former head of state from leaving the country while the investigation is ongoing.
In the April 2019 presidential election, Poroshenko lost to political comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, who had no political background.
Zelensky has vowed to eradicate entrenched corruption and launch investigations into former administration officials.
During Poroshenko’s presidency, Ukraine has embarked on a pro-western course, but critics accuse him of failing to tackle corruption and poverty in the country.
He is now a People’s Deputy in a parliament with a majority of members of Zelensky’s ruling party.
Western officials are concerned about the case.
“All citizens of democracy deserve to be treated equitably and fairly in accordance with the law,” the US embassy in Ukraine said in a statement on Facebook.
“The justice system should not be used for the purpose of adding political accounts,” the comment said.
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