Ukraine asks Italy to extradite opposition leader

Published November 20, 2014

Ukraine is asking Italy to extradite a former governor and senior member of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party on charges of abuse of office.

The Prosecutor General's office said Tuesday that Arsen Avakov, former head of the eastern Kharkiv region who leads the regional branch of Tymoshenko's party, was arrested in Italy on Ukraine's request. Avakov stands accused of misappropriating over 125 acres of land.

Tymoshenko's party has dismissed the accusations against Avakov as retribution for his political activities and asked Italian authorities to free him.

Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 years in prison in October on charges of abuse of office condemned as politically motivated by the West. A top member in her former cabinet has been granted political asylum in the Czech Republic.

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