A court in Prague has refused to release former Ukrainian Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn on bail, Radio Prague has reported.
A statement posted on the Web site of Radio Prague, referring to the court’s press service, noted that the court had refused to release Danylyshyn on bail in mid-November, but the media did not have the right to report this earlier.
Danylyshyn offered 10,000 euro in bail, the report says.
As reported, a criminal case was opened against Danylyshyn under part 2, Article 364 of the Criminal Code (the abuse of power of an official position). While heading the Ukrainian Economy Ministry, Danylyshyn coordinated government procurement. It has been claimed that by using his official status and violating the requirements foreseen by the legislation, Danylyshyn helped limited liability companies to make purchases. He is alleged to have caused damages to the state worth UAH 13.9 million.
In August 2010, Danylyshyn was put on the state, interstate and international wanted list. He was detained in the Czech Republic on October 19.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg said during his visit to Ukraine on November 29, 2010 that he does not rule out that the Czech authorities may consider granting political asylum to Danylyshyn.
"As for political asylum, a relevant application might have been submitted and this matter is probably being considered now," he said.
According to Schwarzenberg, the issue of granting political asylum and the issue of the extradition of Danylyshyn are separate processes that are not interconnected.