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The Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine has said former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov is suspected of committing a criminal offense under Part 2 of Artilce 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power resulting in grave consequences).
"Based on the results of official investigations initiated by the military prosecutor's office and conducted by the Commission of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, it was established that M. Azarov, while serving as prime minister of Ukraine, illegally suspended in autumn 2012 the audit of the government interagency group that revealed significant violations of budget legislation in the activities of state design bureau Antonov,” the press service of the Prosecutor’s General Office reported.
“Funds received from commercial use of Ruslan cargo aircraft remained in the accounts of two foreign companies and a representative of the mentioned enterprise, and were used by them at their own discretion."
The press service said that as a result of these illegal actions by the suspect, as well as the state’s failure to claim corporate rights to dividends, the country incurred losses of UAH 37 million, as confirmed by evidence obtained during the investigation.
The courts have satisfied a petition from the Prosecutor General’s Office that this former official be taken into custody as a measure of pre-trial restraint, the press service said.
In addition, at the proposal of the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office, the government has initiated the process of transferring corporate rights from the non-resident companies mentioned above to the management of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the press service said.