+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Ukraine Prosecutors Open Probe Against Former Premier Tymoshenko
2010-12-15 15:15:43.926 GMT
By Daryna Krasnolutska
Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine's Prosecutor General opened
a criminal probe against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko,
accusing her of misusing funds from a 2009 sale of emissions
permits to Japan.
"I was told that a criminal case was opened because I used
the proceeds to pay pensions during the crisis," Tymoshenko said
in remarks broadcast by Ukrainian private TV channel 5 after
visiting the prosecutor's office in the capital, Kiev. "Pensions
were paid but not from" that money.
Ukraine sold 30 million Assigned Amount Unit credits to
Japan for 10.40 euros ($13.85) apiece last year, according to
Bloomberg data. The proceeds from the sales of AAUs must be used
for greenhouse-gas reduction efforts or environmental
protection.
Tymoshenko lost to President Viktor Yanukovych in a
February election. She said the probe is "terror against the
opposition," according to a statement on her website. The
Prosecutor General also opened a criminal probe against former
Environmental Minister Heorhiy Filipchuk, according to a
statement on the office's website.
For Related News and Information:
Ukrainian gas-market stories TNI UKR GASMARKET <GO>
Natural-gas markets menu NATG <GO>
Today's top news on central, eastern Europe EEUT <GO>
--Editors: Balazs Penz, James M. Gomez.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Daryna Krasnolutska in Kiev at +38-044-490-1252 or
dkrasnolutsk@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Willy Morris at +44-20-7673-2254 or
wmorris@bloomberg.net;
