US diplomats ‘closely following’ treason case against Poroshenko
U.S. diplomats are “closely following” a treason case recently opened against former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv wrote on Twitter on Dec. 21.
“The United States is closely following the case against former President Poroshenko. Crucial that process and outcome be based on the rule of law, not politics,” the embassy tweeted.
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation or SBI announced on Dec. 20 that it had initiated criminal proceedings against Poroshenko, including charges of high treason and aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. He has also received a court summons, although he ignored it, the SBI claims.
The charges involve allegedly illegal coal supplies from the Russia-occupied Donbas region in 2014-2015.
According to the investigation, having refused to buy fuel from South Africa because of its high price, Ukraine was put “into energy dependence on the Russian Federation,” which led to collaboration between Poroshenko and former head of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform - For Life party, Viktor Medvechuk.
The SBI claims the two conspired to obtain coal from non-government controlled parts of Ukraine.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
