You're reading: Pshonka: Tymoshenko will be questioned as witness in Scherban’s case

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko should be questioned in the context of recent statements made by Donetsk Regional Council Deputy Ruslan Shcherban, the son of MP Yevhen Scherban who was killed in 1996, Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka said at a briefing on Thursday, April 5.

He also said that the Scherban case was investigated in the same volumes as in 1996. When asked whether Tymoshenko is a suspect in the case, Pshonka said: "No." He also added that she would be questioned as a witness.

Pshonka recalled that Scherban’s son had filed a complaint, believing that the Prosecutor General’s Office had closed the case unlawfully.

According to the prosecutor general, Ruslan Scherban gave his version of his father’s death.

"All of the versions were and are being studied, including the version on murder because of economic activity. His son is focusing on this," he said.

As reported, a member of the executive committee of the Liberal Party, MP Yevhen Scherban, was shot dead at Donetsk Airport on Nov. 4, 1996. Law enforcement authorities excluded a political scenario behind the murder and considered the criminal scenario to be the main one.

First Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin said late in October 2011 that the investigation into the case on those who ordered Scherban’s murder was underway and that reports about Tymoshenko’s possible involvement in this should be thoroughly checked.

"We have documents from U.S. prosecutor’s office confirming this scenario. And these reports should be checked," he said.

On April 2, 2012, Kuzmin said that Scherban’s killers got the money from firms that were controlled by former Prime Ministers Lazarenko and Tymoshenko, who headed the UESU Corporation.

At the same time, Tymoshenko’s defense lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, said he believes that the new charges brought against the former prime minister are groundless "propaganda" designed "to blacken Tymoshenko’s name." He also described as "absurd" reports about Tymoshenko’s alleged involvement in Scherban’s killing.