The release of former head of the State Customs Service Anatoliy Makarenko and former Deputy Head of the Energy Regional Customs Service Taras Shepitko from custody came about as the result of public pressure and pressure from the international community, Ukraine's former premier and leader of the Batkivschyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko has said.
"It happened thanks to the clear position of the international democratic community. And in Ukraine there are enough people who know how to stand fast," she told reporters on Tuesday, answering a question from Interfax-Ukraine. The ex-premier was at Kyiv Court of Appeals to congratulate the former officials on their release from custody.
Deputy leader of the Batkivschyna Party Oleksandr Turchynov, who was also present, told the agency that Shepitko and Makarenko would get the necessary medical assistance. Makarenko and Shepitko refused to talk to journalists.
Kyiv Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday to change the measure of restraint against Makarenko and Shepitko from detention to a travel ban. In particular, they have been banned from travelling outside of Ukraine until the court completes the trial.
Makarenko and Shepitko are charged with the illegal customs clearance of natural gas. They were detained as part of a criminal investigation into causing damage to Ukraine after the consideration of a lawsuit filed by RosUkrEnergo against Naftogaz Ukrainy at the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
