Former energy minister Halushchenko detained while attempting to leave Ukraine – source

Ukrainian former energy minister Herman Halushchenko was detained by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) during an attempt to cross the border on the night of 14-15 February.

Source: an Ukrainska Pravda source in political circles

Details: It was specified that Halushchenko was removed from a train.

The source added that border guards had received a request from NABU and SAPO regarding Halushchenko to obtain information in case he attempted to cross the border.

This procedure is applied when a person is involved in criminal cases.

Ukrainska Pravda has learnt that Halushchenko attempted to leave Ukraine using his status as a father of a large family.

For reference: In Ukraine, families with three or more children under the age of 18 are entitled to a number of benefits, among them deferral from mobilisation for fathers of such families, which allows them to travel abroad.

Update: SAPO later confirmed that NABU detectives detained Halushchenko as part of Operation Midas while he was crossing the state border.

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Background:

• On the morning of 10 November, it was revealed that NABU detectives had conducted searches at the homes of Tymur Mindich and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko (who was then suspended on 12 November). Ukrainska Pravda sources also reported that Mindich left Ukraine hours before the searches.
• That same day, NABU reported that they had exposed a large-scale corruption scheme in the energy sector and released audio recordings.

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