"Half an hour ago our colleague, the head of the party organization in Kharkiv region, Avakov, was released in Italy, in Rome," Kozhemiakin said in the session hall of the Ukrainian parliament on April 12.

Avakov headed Kharkiv Regional State Administration from February 2004 until February 2010. He chairs the Kharkiv regional organization of the Batkivschyna Party.

On Tuesday, March 27, reports of Avakov’s detention in Italy were confirmed. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said that it was preparing a package of documents for Avakov’s extradition to Ukraine. In this regard, the leadership of the Batkivschyna Party sent letters to the Interpol secretary general and the Italian government with a request to take into account "the obvious political motivation" behind Avakov’s criminal prosecution, and release him.

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On March 29, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said that the judicial authorities in Italy had decided to place Avakov in custody for 40 days.

On January 31, charges were brought against Avakov under Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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