KIEV — A former Ukrainian interior minister and close ally of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced to fours year in jail Monday for embezzlement and abuse of office.
Yuri Lutsenko denied the charges and in earlier comments to journalists made it clear that he expected to be jailed. "Everybody understands that this is a political trial, not a judicial one," Lutsenko told reporters from a metal cage in the courtroom.
Lutsenko's alleged offences include illegally granting an apartment to his lawyer and financial irregularities relating to celebrations marking National Police Day.
(Reuters)
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