The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has expressed alarm about the situation linked to the investigation into a criminal case against Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, which was opened by the Prosecutor General's Office, according to an official statement of the Government.
"Statements that were announced in the media, concerning accusations made against the Interior Minister and personal explanations by Lutsenko, show that these accusations were obviously far-fetched and made to order," the statement said.
The Government of the coalition of democratic forces is alarmed about the pressure being exercised by the Prosecutor General's Office on Government members. "We consider these moves as a threat to democratic achievements of our state, a return to the period of authoritarianism, and disregard for human rights and freedoms," reads the statement.
The Government is protesting against political persecution and asking law enforcement bodies to end the practice of opening criminal cases at the request of political forces, and demanding exhaustive measures on preventing the politicization of prosecutor's bodies.
