Former prosecutor general Kravchenko in Vienna negotiating settlement abroad

Former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko was in Vienna, holding talks with law firms about legal support on the matter of settling abroad.

This was reported to the outlet Strana by sources in legal circles.

According to the publication’s sources, among the options being considered is filing a request for political asylum.

Kravchenko left Ukraine on the night of Monday, shortly before that having announced suspicion charges against NABU chief Semyon Krivonos. The grant-funded Center for Countering Corruption, which is close to NABU, claims that Kravchenko could only have traveled abroad with the knowledge and approval of Volodymyr Zelensky.

The former prosecutor general himself wrote on his Telegram channel that he had gone on a work trip. Media reported that the basis for his departure was a PACE event dedicated to abducted Ukrainian children. However, PACE denied that Kravchenko had been listed as a participant in the event.

On August 15, President Zelensky dismissed Kravchenko from the post of prosecutor general.

A number of members of parliament have stated that NABU is preparing to announce suspicion charges against Kravchenko in the near future in the “Kafagen” case. If this happens, the former prosecutor general could theoretically interpret such a move as political persecution and retaliation on the part of NABU’s leadership — and attempt to use it as grounds for filing an asylum application.