Ex-head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Arsen Avakov, who was elected MP in the recent parliamentary elections in Ukraine from the Batkivschyna All-Ukrainian Union, has said that he was sure of his legal position and was not afraid of being arrested on returning to Ukraine.
“Any such situation needs to be resolved. In this case exhaustive legal and other positions are on my side. I have no reasons to doubt that Ukraine hasn’t become a banana republic yet. We’ll strive for it not to be so,” he told journalists at Boryspil airport after returning from Italy.
Asked whether he was not afraid of arrest, Avakov said: “I’ve long since lived through that fear.”
He thanked his team of lawyers for their work.
“They are competent guys, who did their job very well, and my deputy colleagues helped evoke a response from those who often pay no attention to lawyers. Thats why I was confident. The time has come, and I’m here, and I’ll do my [deputy] job,” he said.
The ex-head of Kharkiv regional administration also said that he feels very good to be in his motherland and was glad to return home.
“I came back home feeling tranquil, joyful, and with the expectation of meeting with friends,” Avakov said.
His deputy colleagues met him at the airport.
Avakov said he would take his MP oath at the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday.
