You're reading: Media report Vienna law enforcers detain Yushchenko’s former adviser

The police in Vienna on Feb. 23 on the request of Spain for extradition detained 53-year-old Ukrainian of Syrian origin Hares Youssef, previously engaged in gas trade and trade in non-ferrous metals, the ex-adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, according to Austrian edition Kurier, with reference to the Vienna prosecutor’s office.

The information that the detainee is ex-adviser to Yushchenko Hares Youssef was also spread by Deutsche Welle (DW). According to its data, he is involved in the same case, which was opened in relation to founder and chairman of Group DF Dmytro Firtash on suspicion of money laundering.

“Youssef, as earlier reported by Spanish media with reference to the investigation, allegedly disposed the flows of money he received from Firtash,” DW says.

At the same time, Kurier said Firtash’s environment did not confirm that Hares Youssef was a longtime business partner of the founder and head of Group DF. The newspaper also added Youssef reportedly denied all the accusations against him.