On Wednesday, 9 March the detectives of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine in agreement with the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor issued a notice of suspicion on interference with the work of a public official (article 344, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) to Andriy Pasishnyk, the Acting Deputy of the Board Chairman of the Naftogaz National Joint Stock Company.
The notice of suspicion had to be handed personally over to Mr. Pasishnyk on 9 March during interrogation in the NABU scheduled for 12:00. However during the night of 8-9 March A. Pasishnyk informed the detective he will not be able to come to the NABU before 1 April because he had had to urgently go abroad for treatment. Therefore the written communication including the notice of suspicion was sent by mail to his place of residence in accordance with the procedure established by law (part 1, article 278 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine). Whether Mr. Pasishnyk had a legitimate medical reason to miss the interrogation is being validated.
It should be reminded that on 3 February the NABU detectives began investigating the facts concerning alleged interference of the BPP first deputy faction leader I. Kononenko and several other parliament members with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade work given by Aivaras Abromavičius, the Minister of Economy and Trade.
Preliminary criminal investigation of the offence under the Criminal Code article 364 (part 2) (misuse of powers and responsibilities) uncovered the fact of Andriy Pasishnyk unlawfully influencing Aivaras Abromavičius with a view to make him pass the motion to appoint A. Pasishnyk his deputy minister. The events mentioned took place on 25 January – 1 February, and on 24 February the NABU detectives filed a criminal case against A. Pasishnyk for interference with the work of a public official (article 344, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pre-trial investigation of the information given by A. Abromavičius is in progress.