Activists demand extension of Nasirov's detention

The Ukrainian public outraged that Chairman of the Ukrainian Fiscal Service Roman Nasirov might escape from the punishment as there was no judge to extend his detention period on Sunday, March 5, gathered outside the Solomyansky district court's building on Sunday evening to block the court's central entrance.

The court considering the Nasirov case announced a break on March 5 in connection with a motion put forth by his lawyers to recuse the judge. The lawyers also insisted on rescheduling a court hearing in connection with Nasirov's health condition, but the court turned it down.

Nasirov's lawyers claim that he underwent heart surgery in Kyiv's Feofania hospital, but media reports said that the defendant's examination at Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology had not confirmed the conclusions made by Feofania doctors.

Nasirov who is facing criminal charges in connection with Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine was removed from his duties on March 3 for the period of the criminal proceedings. Investigators insist that in 2015-2016 Nasirov acted in the interests of MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko by allowing local State Fiscal Service agencies to unlawfully reschedule tax debts due to be paid by three firms affiliated with Onyshchenko. Damage done to the state budget is estimated at almost UAH 2 billion.