You're reading: MP Oliynyk: Ukraine may grant political asylum to former Czech Defense Minister Parkanova

Ukraine may provide political asylum to the Vice-Chair of the Chamber of Deputies and former Czech Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova, who is "politically persecuted by the current leadership of that state," Regions Party MP Volodymyr Oliynyk has said. 

“I think if citizen of the Czech Republic Vlasta Parkanova appeals to Ukraine with a request for political asylum, Ukraine has all grounds for the consideration of her application by the competent authorities and for the provision of such asylum. In my opinion, there is every reason to consider the facts of the persecution of Vlasta Parkanova at the next meeting of the PACE,” the party’s press service quoted Oliynyk as saying on Tuesday.

He said that according to investigators, two years ago, during her tenure as defense minister, Parkanova gave her consent to the purchase of allegedly “too expensive” military equipment. Four CASA military transport aircraft were purchased without a proper examination of their price. According to investigators, $31 million worth of damage was caused to the state.

However, he said that the decision on the purchase of the aircraft had been taken by the Czech government, rather than the defense minister. Thus, Parkanova’s fault lies only in the fact that she did not prepare comparative documentation on the transport aircraft market. Investigators said during the consideration of the case in parliament that through this she could mislead the government, which took a collective decision on the purchase of the aircraft.

“Vlasta Parkanova does not admit the charges and considers them as persecution. In fact, Mrs. Parkanova, during the purchase of the aircraft, proceeded from the interests of improving the defense capability of her country and received no benefits for herself. The decision itself was taken by the government, and most of its members are now in power. Given European practice, there really are signs of political persecution here,” Oliynyk said.

As reported, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, the husband of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, and former Ukrainian Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn were earlier granted asylum in the Czech Republic