Oleg Sukhov: Reformer and anti-reformer of the week

Nazar Kholodnytsky

Nazar Kholodnytsky, Ukraine’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor, last week submitted a request to parliament for the arrest of lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko in connection with an embezzlement case.

This is the first attempt by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine to arrest a high-profile politician.

Onyshchenko, a member of the People’s Will faction, is accused of running a Hr 3 billion ($120 million) embezzlement scheme at state-owned gas producer Ukrgazvydobuvannya.

Subsequently the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and anti-corruption prosecutors arrested 10 other suspects in the case.

In May, the anti-corruption bureau and anti-corruption prosecutors also arrested a top prosecutor and an official in charge of spending funds that Ukraine received under the Kyoto Protocol.