Security Service of Ukraine: Some Ukrainian politicians are sponsored by Russia
The head of the Ukrainian Security Service, Vasyl Grytsak, stated that Yanukovych-era Ukrainian politicians and high-ranking officials who escaped to Russia as well as the Russian Secret Service are allocating funds to destabilize the situation in Ukraine through second and third tier politicians, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
“Russia is funding extremism in our State,” Grytsak said.
“We have identified a lot of cases where, for example, some Ukrainian politicians – not of the first, but second or third tier politicians - have secretly met with representatives of the former Ukrainian political elites that escaped to Russia and receive funding both from them and the Russian Security Service. Then these funds are used to destabilize the situation in the country,” Grytsak stated.
Last year it was reported that the SSU initiated criminal proceedings based on the organization of meetings with mine workers, possibly, sponsored by the former Ukrainian politicians now living in Russia.
“From April 22 – 24, 2015, the management of certain private coal mining companies in Ukraine, driven by self-interest and in order to exert pressure on the public authorities, funded protests in Kiev that included blocking the regulatory and administrative authorities. Based on these facts, the SSU investigators have initiated criminal proceedings under Article 110-2 p.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the statement read.
Earlier, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Nikolai Azarov, stated that he had no money to fund “provocations.”