March 5, 2015 - 16:18 AMT
Former Ukrainian finance minister arrested in Spain

Spanish police have arrested former Ukraine finance minister Yuri Kolobov, who is accused of embezzling millions of euros in state funds, the Associated Press reports.

A Civil Guard statement Thursday said Kolobov was detained in the eastern coastal town of Altea where he is believed to have been living since August. He was arrested on an order issued through Interpol in October.

Ukrainian authorities say Kolobov, 41, and other government officials misappropriated some 7 million euros of public money to a private company.

Kolobov was minister in the government of former President Viktor Yanukovych, which fell in February 2014. Yanukovych and several members of his government then fled the country.

Photo: The Nation