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WORLD NEWS Saturday 28 September 2019

Ukraine’s prosecutor says no probe into Biden

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV radio interview that the
Associated Press earlier investigation of Bu-
MOSCOW (AP) — Ukraine’s risma was closed for lack
top anti-corruption offi- of evidence in 2017, but a
cial said Friday his agency court in the Ukrainian capi-
hasn’t launched an investi- tal overruled the move the
gation into former U.S. Vice following year. Despite the
President Joe Biden or his court’s ruling, the case has
son, even though U.S. Presi- remained on hold and the
dent Donald Trump pressed investigation has stalled.
for one in a summer phone He emphasized that there
call that touched off an im- was no mention of Biden
peachment inquiry. or his son in the Burisma
Trump pushed Ukrainian case, which was focused
President Volodymyr Zelen- broadly to look into alleged
skiy to investigate his politi- abuse of power by officials
cal rival and his son, Hunter, in Ukraine’s Ministry of Ecol-
who served on the board ogy.
of an energy company in Asked if Ukrainian prosecu-
Ukraine. That July 25 phone tors could question Biden
call is the focus of a whistle- or his son, Kholodnitskiy said
blower complaint that trig- that to do so they would
gered the formal impeach- need to see information
ment inquiry in the U.S. that would signal possible
Congress. wrongdoing.
Nazar Kholodnitskiy, the “As of now, there is nothing President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the InterContinental
head of the Specialized there,” he said. “If it comes Barclay New York hotel during the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019,
Anti-Corruption Prosecu- up, measures will be taken in New York.
tor’s Office, said in an in- to check the information.” Associated Press
terview with NV radio that In the July call, Zelenskiy the country’s endemic cor- Democratic House Speak- phasized that the publica-
Biden and his son weren’t appears to make an ef- ruption and end fighting er Nancy Pelosi’s decision tion of the Trump-Zelenskiy
the subject of any investi- fort to stay in Trump’s good with Russia-backed sepa- to open an impeachment call is an internal U.S. is-
gation. graces, telling him at least ratists in Ukraine’s east. inquiry based on the call. sue, but added that it was
Hunter Biden served on twice that he is “absolutely The publication of the call, “Is it the Democrats’ job “quite unusual” to release
the board of Ukrainian gas right.” But after the rough in which both presidents to make a laughing stock a confidential call between
company Burisma at the transcript was released made critical comments of the United States?” she leaders.
same time as his father was by the White House this about German Chancellor said. “It’s exactly what Ms. “The materials related to
leading the Obama ad- week, Zelenskiy told report- Angela Merkel and French Pelosi has done to Con- conversations between
ministration’s diplomatic ers he didn’t feel pushed, President Emmanuel Ma- gress, the White House and heads of states are usu-
dealings with Kyiv. Though emphasizing that “no one cron, has drawn acerbic other state institutions.” ally classified according to
the timing raised concerns can pressure me.” He also comments from Russian of- Asked if Moscow is worried normal international prac-
among anti-corruption ad- sought to play down the ficials and lawmakers. that the White House could tice,” he said.q
vocates, there has been no situation involving Biden “We are waiting for the par- similarly publish transcripts
evidence of wrongdoing and his son’s activities in ty to continue,” Russian For- of Trump’s calls with Russian
by either the former vice Ukraine, calling it just one eign Ministry spokeswoman President Vladimir Putin,
president or his son. Trump of “many cases that I talk Maria Zakharova said. “Let Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
also has claimed that Joe about with leaders of other them publish transcripts of Peskov said that “we would
Biden pressured the Ukrai- countries.” conversations between like to hope that it wouldn’t
nian government to shut The political furor has come NATO allies. It would also come to that in our rela-
down a corruption investi- as a severe test for Zelen- be useful to publish minutes tions, which are already
gation of Burisma, but that skiy, a comedian without of closed meetings at the troubled by a lot of prob-
claim has been repeatedly any political experience CIA, the FBI and the Penta- lems.”
discredited. who was elected in a land- gon. Put it all on air!” Speaking in a conference
Kholodnitskiy said in the slide on promises to uproot Zakharova also scoffed at call with reporters, he em-