You're reading: Melnychenko to depart from Italy to US on Aug. 21

Mykola Melnychenko, a former officer from the Department of the State Guard of Ukraine, will depart from Italy for the United States on Tuesday, Aug. 21.

“Tomorrow I am departing for the United States from Italy. I am
stating that I’ve never been hiding from fair justice. I am ready to
cooperate with investigators in the United States and Ukraine!” he wrote
on his page in Facebook on Monday, Aug. 20.

As reported, Melnychenko has the status of refugee and is under the witness protection program in the United States.

In November 2000, a tape scandal broke out in Ukraine after the
parliament revealed audio recordings allegedly made by Melnychenko at
the office of then president Leonid Kuchma. Melnychenko was charged with
divulging a state secret, exceeding powers and using forged documents.

In September 2011, Melnychenko was put on a wanted list. A court in
Kyiv ordered his remand into custody since Melnychenko skipped his bail
and absconded.

Melnychenko was arrested in Italy on August 3. On August 14, an appellate court in Naples decided to release him.