U.S. urges for Ukraine’s ex-Minister release April 13, 2012 - 19:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States on Friday, April 13 called on Ukraine to release former defence minister Valeriy Ivashchenko, saying it was deeply disappointed by his five-year prison sentence on abuse of office charges, AFP reported. "We are deeply disappointed in this latest example of selective justice in Ukraine and call for his release, particularly given the state of his health after 18 months in pre-trial detention," the U.S. embassy in Kiev said in a statement. Ivashchenko became the third minister in the pro-Western government of the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to have been put in prison in the two years since her presidential rival Viktor Yanukovych took office. Ex-interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko was in February sentenced to four years in jail while former environment and natural resources minister Georgiy Filipchuk was in April sentenced to three years. The Kiev district court on April 12 sentenced Ivashchenko for overseeing a November 2009 land privatisation deal that allegedly cost the state budget nearly $10 million dollars. Former Orange Revolution leader Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in jail in October over a 2009 natural gas agreement she agreed with Russia in a verdict that has for the moment wrecked Kiev's ambitions of joining the EU.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals  Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation.Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush.Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year.Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |
