Ukraine has filed a request with the United Kingdom for the extradition of former parliamentarian Aleksandr Granovsky, who faces corruption charges that he claims are politically motivated, according to a Sunday Times (UK) report.
Granovsky, who served in Ukraine’s parliament from 2015 to 2019 as part of former President Petro Poroshenko’s European Solidarity party, is accused of selling fertilizers below market value to a preferred buyer that resold them abroad for profit, allegedly costing the state about 93 million hryvnias ($2.2 million). He left Ukraine for the UK in 2022 after the investigation began and insists the evidence against him is forged.
Kiev filed the extradition request in 2023 and recently escalated efforts by issuing an indictment and adding Granovsky to its wanted list. The former MP told the Sunday Times he is a victim of “political persecution” and expressed confidence that the British legal system would handle his case fairly.
Legal experts quoted by the paper have raised concerns over Ukraine’s judicial standards. Lord Macdonald, the UK’s former director of public prosecutions, said Ukrainian courts failed to meet “minimum trial standards,” while Labour peer Lord Glasman warned that Kiev’s pursuit of the case could strain ties with London.
Although no full extradition treaty exists between the two nations, Ukraine is classified as a “category A” country under UK law, allowing requests without pre-submitted evidence of guilt. A hearing is expected next year.
President Vladimir Zelensky’s government has been accused by critics of using corruption charges to suppress opposition figures, including Poroshenko, some of whom have been stripped of citizenship over alleged links to Russia.
How many billions has the coke snorting, globe trotting beggar masquerading as the leader of Ukraine managed to put aside for his retirement fund?