Media: Ukrainian law enforcement prepares for arrest of ex-President Poroshenko

Ukrainian law enforcement officers are stationed outside the residence of former President Petro Poroshenko as preparations are underway for his arrest on charges of treason.

The development was reported by the UNIAN news agency while the specific law enforcement agency involved has not been disclosed, per Caliber.Az.

The move comes after Poroshenko announced that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine had imposed sanctions against him. He also revealed that he had received 15 subpoenas to appear before the State Bureau of Investigation, effectively barring him from attending the Munich Security Conference scheduled for February 14 to 16.

Poroshenko denounced the actions as “unconstitutional and politically motivated,” claiming that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is behind the pressure. The former president accused Zelenskyy of attempting to shift the blame for his own failures onto others, including military commanders, and cited his case as an example of this strategy.

In his address to the nation on February 12, President Zelenskyy addressed the National Security and Defence Council’s meeting, emphasizing the need to block billions allegedly earned by selling out Ukrainian interests. He stated these funds should instead be directed towards Ukraine's defence efforts.

The pressure on Poroshenko has been building since late January. Lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko stated that there were attempts to restrict Poroshenko’s right to attend parliamentary sessions for six months. His party, European Solidarity, also reported government plans to limit his parliamentary activities.

This political pressure coincided with statements from the new US administration, which has called for Ukraine’s presidential elections to occur before the end of the year. Media reports have highlighted that Zelenskyy's office has significantly ramped up efforts to suppress opposition, especially after the US statements.

As Forbes Ukraine points out, on December 21, 2021, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) formally accused Poroshenko of state treason, alleging his involvement in a scheme with Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party. The SBU claims Poroshenko helped sabotage coal imports from South Africa in favour of coal from Russian-occupied Donbas, a charge he has denied.

Poroshenko served as Ukraine's president from June 7, 2014, to May 20, 2019.

By Tamilla Hasanova