Volodymyr Zelensky late Tuesday revealed that Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian oligarch and close friend of Vladimir Putin, has been detained after escaping house arrest during the invasion of Russia. Russia.
“A special operation was made thanks to SBU [state security service,]“The President of Ukraine said in a Telegram post.
The post featured a photo of Medvedchuk sitting on a chair, wearing a camouflage Ukrainian military uniform, his hands cuffed.
“Good job! More details later. Glory to Ukraine!”, Zelensky said in the post.
The SBU, which posted another photo of Medvedchuk in handcuffs, said in a statement:
“You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for many years. You may be evading justice lately. You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage. . . But will it save you from punishment? Nothing! Chains are waiting for you. As well as for Ukrainian traitors like you! ”
SBU director Ivan Bakanov said in a statement that Medvedchuk had been arrested in a “lightning and dangerous multi-level special operation”, but detailed how he fled and where he our detention is not immediately clear.
A longtime close friend of Putin’s who said the Russian President was godfather to one of his children, Medvedchuk was arrested last year on charges of treason, including revealing secrets. military for Moscow.
A member of Ukraine’s Parliament, Medvedchuk was sanctioned by the US for his pro-Russian influence in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and fueled a proxy war of secession in the eastern Donbas region.
Medvedchuk’s pro-Russian TV channels were shut down by Zelensky’s government.
