Ex-head of Ukraine's National Bank seeks refuge in Austria

The former governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kyrylo Shevchenko, who now lives in Vienna, has filed a petition with the Austrian authorities for asylum. He announced political persecution by the Ukrainian authorities, Report informs via Strana.ua.

Shevchenko is suspected of organizing a criminal scheme to embezzle funds from the state-owned Ukrgasbank.

Sources suggested that he was trying to complicate the process of a possible extradition. Consideration of an asylum application can take a year. In addition, the refusal can be appealed, which will also take time.

In October, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine put Shevchenko on the wanted list. Together with him, the ex-deputy chairman of Ukrgasbank Denys Chernyshov and deputy director of the department for working with corporate VIP clients Olena Khmelenko were put on the wanted list.

Shevchenko left the post of head of the National Bank in early October, citing health reasons. Two days later, he and other defendants were charged with embezzling 200 million hryvnia (more than $5.5 million). From 2015 to 2020, he served as chairman of the board of Ukrgasbank.