EU lifts sanctions against former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Pshonka, who fled to russia
The decision was explained by errors in assessing the grounds for restrictions
The Court of Justice of the European Union has removed former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka and his son Artem from the sanctions list. The decision was explained by errors in the assessment of the grounds for the restrictions. The court noted that the accusation was based on "insufficiently solid facts".
Source. Bloomberg.
Pshonka fled to russia with President Viktor Yanukovych after the change of power in Ukraine in 2014. At the same time, he was first placed under EU sanctions as a person subject to criminal prosecution in Ukraine for embezzlement and illegal export of public funds, corruption and abuse of office.
Euromaidan activists who entered the ex-Prosecutor General's house in the village of Horenychi near Kyiv after the escape found numerous luxury items and icons. Some of them were later transferred to the National Museum of Ukraine. The furniture and other interior items were covered with rhinestones and gold, and Pshonka's paintings depicted him as Napoleon and Caesar. A disk with a video course on alcoholism treatment and exorcism was also found in the house.
In Ukraine, Pshonka was put on the wanted list. His son, who was a member of the Party of Regions, is suspected of embezzlement. The former Prosecutor General himself believes the charges are fabricated.
According to the EU court, it is unclear whether the EU was convinced that the Ukrainian judiciary respected the right to defense in local criminal proceedings. As a result, the decision to extend sanctions against Pshonka for the period from 3 March 2022 to 6 September 2023 was canceled.
In the fall of 2022, the EU Council did not extend the restrictions against the former Prosecutor General of 5 March 2014 stating that they had expired.
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