Ukraine Opens Probes Into Possible Surveillance Of Former U.S. Envoy Yovanovitch

By RFE/RL January 16, 2020

Ukraine says it has launched two criminal investigations into the possible illegal surveillance of former U.S. ambassador to Kyiv Marie Yovanovitch before she was recalled from her post last year.

The Interior Ministry made the announcement on January 16, two days after investigators at the U.S. House of Representatives released documents showing Lev Parnas, an associate of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, communicating about Yovanovitch's removal.

In its statement, the ministry said that Ukrainian police "are not interfering in the internal political affairs of the United States."

But it said the published messages "contain facts of possible violations of Ukrainian law and of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations."

The ministry said it had asked the FBI to provide Ukraine with all the materials related to the case and offered U.S. representatives to take part in the investigations.

Yovanovitch served as the U.S. ambassador to Kyiv from 2016 to May 2019, when she was abruptly recalled amid public criticism from Trump allies about her performance.

She has testified in the House impeachment inquiry against Trump and was critical of the president's Ukraine policy.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/giuliani-associate-parnas -says-trump-knew-exactly-what-was-going -on-in-ukraine-campaign/30380729.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.