Oleksandr Onyshchenko, the Ukrainian MP involved in the so-called gas case rejected the possibility of being extradited from Spain, where he’s given political asylum, to Ukraine, as he told Ukrainska Pravda.
“There’s no extradition. People who have political asylum, their cases are investigated in the country which gave the asylum. That’s why I will be trialed here, and the sentence will happen here. It’s the only chance for me to defend myself,” he said.
He added that he didn’t fear the trial.
“The trial is a good thing. I was never afraid of trials. Went to the court calmly, ready to defend myself. The main thing is having such a possibility. I am sure of my righteousness. I have nothing to worry about as to this case,” he said.
As it was reported earlier, Spain began extradition process of Oleksandr Onyshchenko, according to a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine.
The investigation of the gas case by the NABU began in December 2015. According to the prosecution, the members of the criminal organization unlawfully acquired $59 million through selling natural gas over the period from January 2013 to June 2016. Ukrgazvydobuvannya lost over $27 million as a result. The investigation established that 29 people were involved in this case. Seven of them are on the wanted list, including Onyshchenko. 12 indictments against 18 people were submitted to the court and 7 of them have already been found guilty.
