You're reading: Foreign Ministry: Melnychenko refuses to talk with Ukrainian diplomats in Naples

A former employee of Ukraine's presidential guard, Mykola Melnychenko, has to talk with Ukrainian diplomats after his arrest in Naples (Italy), the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reported.   

On August 6, a court hearing on to Melnychenko’s detention was held, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said at a briefing on Tuesday.

“Melnychenko refused to talk with consular officers of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples,” he said.

According to the lawyer of the detainee, the former presidential bodyguard is still in custody and has asked an Italian court not to extradite him to Ukraine.

As reported, on August 3 Melnychenko was arrested at Naples Airport on a warrant issued by the Ukrainian bureau of Interpol. On August 6, a court of Naples postponed a hearing on the issue of the extradition of Melnychenko due to the fact that he asked not to be extradited. The Justice Ministry of Italy will decide on the issue within ten days. If Melnychenko is extradited, the court will continue hearings.