Chief Military Procurator of the Russian Federation Alexander Savenkov stated here on the same day that “an inquiry came from the Interpol HQ today on the criminal case, in which Timoshenko figures as a defendant. “We have addressed an answer to the Interpol Office in Russia and it is to be forwarded to the Interpol HQ in the course of the day”, Savenkov stated.

The Interpol inquiry dealt with some procedural matters, Save

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nkov added. “They were purely technical, relating to information on Yulia Timoshenko, on the date when the criminal proceedings were instituted against her, etc. Of course, all those documents were provided in full and in keeping with the international standards and Interpol requirements,” Savenkov explained.

Today, he stressed, the prosecution “has proofs that nobody else but personally Yulia Timoshenko was behind the bribing of five officers of the Russian Defence Ministry”. The investigation has shown that those officers had “committed definite actions in the interests of the Ukrainian side during the drafting of contracts on the purchase of building materials for the needs of the Defence Ministry. Their cost was overstated by a total sum of 80 million U.S. dollars”.

Touching on the problem of Timoshenko’s parliamentary immunity, Savenkov noted that “the latter envisages definite procedures to bring an MP to book and there is such a procedure in Ukraine, too”. In his opinion, “such immunity can be surmounted in the event of certain circumstances. The case contains enough evidence for law-abiding citizens to pass a decision on this problem,” Savenkov said.

He bluntly denied the alleged political background of the “Timoshenko case”. We are faced with a criminal offence, which boils down to the bribing of some Defence Ministry officials. Timoshnko headed a non-state private commercial company when the criminal proceedings were instituted against her. And no political aspects were taken into account in the course of the inquiry.

Russian law enforcement bodies had cooperated with their Ukrainian colleagues during the investigation. They carried out joint investigative actions, expert appraisals, and audits. Savenkov recalled that Russian courts of arbitration, just as the Ukrainian courts, had complied with the claims to the “United Energy Systems of Ukraine” corporation and their fulfilment has been under way for more than two years, but the losses inflicted on the Russian Defence Ministry have still not been fully recouped.

Data on Timoshenko were published on Tuesday on the official Interpol site in the column of wanted persons.

This information was later deleted from the site pending the receipt of additional data from Moscow, Interpol explained.

MOSCOW, December 8 (Itar-Tass)