Ukraine makes first payment of $390mln debt to RussiaJanuary 19, 2013 - 13:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine made its first payment of the $390 million debt to Russia of the scandal-plagued state corporation United Energy Systems, once headed by jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko, the country’s prosecutor general said on Friday, Jan 18, according to RIA Novosti. “Payments have started. $7.5 million have already been paid to Russia,” Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka said. The Ukrainian security service said on October 13, 2011 that it opened a second case against the ex-PM, sentenced to seven years for abuse of office in 2011. The case concerned a debt which the United Energy Systems of Ukraine, then chaired by Tymoshenko, owed to the Russian Defense Ministry in the 1990s. The company was the main importer of Russian gas under Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko in 1996. Tymoshenko is also accused of tax evasion and forgery by an official. Her defense team dismissed all accusations as a political revenge by the country’s incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia clarifying reports on Baku’s alleged arms supply to Ukraine Russia says is carefully working to verify reports about alleged arms supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine |