Ukraine’s powerful tax chief held in €70 million graft case
Activists say Roman Nasirov is first ‘big fish’ to be targeted in fight against corruption
Roman Nasirov, head of Ukraine’s powerful tax and customs agency, lies inside the defendant’s cage during a court hearing in Kiev on Sunday. He claimed to have suffered heart problems when investigators raided his office. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
A Kiev court has started a detention hearing against Roman Nasirov, the controversial head of Ukraine’s powerful tax and customs agency, in what could be a landmark case for the country’s faltering fight with top-level corruption.
Anti-graft prosecutors suspect that Mr Nasirov defrauded the state of some €70 million in tax payments, to the benefit of firms linked to fugitive Ukrainian deputy Oleksandr Onishchenko. Mr Nasirov’s lawyers say he was detained illegally.