Ukrainian ex-minister given jail term for abuse of officeFebruary 27, 2012 - 18:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Ukrainian court on Monday, February 27 sentenced Yuriy Lutsenko, a former Ukrainian interior minister and ally of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, to four years in prison for abuse of office, RIA Novosti reported. Lutsenko, who was arrested in December 2010, was found guilty of illegally employing and giving an apartment and pension to his former driver as well as of overspending government funds during Police Day celebrations in 2008 and 2009, when he was in office. The total damages caused by Lutsenko to Ukraine’s budget is estimated at $125,000. The former minister has denied any wrongdoing, saying his trial was politically motivated. The Ukrainian authorities have rejected the allegation. Prosecutors have demanded that Lutsenko be jailed for four and half years. Some 50 journalists, as well as diplomats and opposition lawmakers, attended Monday’s session at the Pechersky Court. As the judge read out the verdict, Lutsenko supporters staged a protest outside the court building. Ukrainian opposition supporters view his prosecution as a continuation of President Victor Yanukovych’s crackdown on his political opponents. In October last year, the Pechersky Court sentenced Ukraine’s former prime minister and leading opposition figure Tymoshenko to seven years in prison for abusing her authority by pushing through a 2009 gas deal with Russia. Ukraine’s opposition, Western powers and Russia have condemned her trial as politically motivated, a claim Yanukovych has strongly denied. Tymoshenko, who was one of the leaders of Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution, moved to the opposition after narrowly losing the 2010 presidential elections to Yanukovych. 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 | 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. |