A former Ukrainian economics minister and ally of opposition leader and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was granted political asylum in the Czech Republic on Thursday, his lawyer said.
Ukrainian prosecutors have charged Bohdan Danylyshyn with abuse of office and misspending $1.75 million of state funds. The onetime economics minister was arrested in the Czech Republic on an Interpol warrant in October.
Danylyshyn denied the accusations, saying they are politically motivated.
Several members of Tymoshenko's former cabinet have also been accused of abuse of office.
Tymoshenko, who was ousted as prime minister in a no-confidence vote in March following her narrow defeat to Viktor Yanukovych in last February's presidential election, has been accused of illegally diverting $425 million meant for environmental projects into pension funds.
Former interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko is in custody awaiting trial.
KIEV, January 13 (RIA Novosti)
