You're reading: Danylyshyn to protect his rights in Ukraine

Former Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn, who was granted political asylum in the Czech Republic, has said that his detention in this country was not a surprise for him.

"Of course, this was not a surprise for me. I hoped that I could give the relevant evidence, explain my position on this case… They promised that the charges against me would not just be withdrawn, but the procedures linked to the international wanted list would be withdrawn, and I would be able to return to Ukraine," Danylyshyn said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

The former minister said that representatives of the Czech Foreign Ministry conducted a relevant interview with him and documents were given to him confirming that in Ukraine there could be risks to his rights as a person and citizen.

Danylyshyn said that officially he took a vacation on August 2, 2010. On August 5, he left for Germany to undergo treatment in hospitals in Baden-Baden.

In addition, the political refugee said that even after he learned that a criminal case had been opened against him, he gave interviews to some mass media several times.

Commenting on the charges brought against him that he caused large amounts of monetary losses to the state, Danylyshyn said the sums involved are always different in the various claims.

Danylyshyn also said he plans to protect his rights with the help of a lawyer in Ukraine and hopes that a time will come and he we be able to prove his innocence in Ukraine as well.