​TRANSNISTRIA'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR VITALY IGNATIEV WANTED IN UKRAINE

Transnistria's chief negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev has been put on a wanted list in Ukraine. The Ukrainian media reported that Ignatiev is accused of "hiding from the body of criminal prosecution."

According to the report, Ignatiev was put on a wanted list after he failed to appear on a summons to the Department of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) in the city of Vinnytsia in January. He was summoned to testify as part of the criminal case opened against him. He is accused of "public appeals regarding the borders of the territory or state border of Ukraine, in violation of the provisions of the Ukrainian Constitution" and "information activities in cooperation with the aggressor state and its occupation administration, aimed at supporting the aggressor country." According to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the former carries a penalty of 12 to 15 years in prison and the latter 10 to 12 years.

Ignatiev was born in the Odessa region of Ukraine. He, like many other Tiraspol leaders, has Ukrainian citizenship. He did not respond to the invitation to the SSU in any way, and also categorically refused to answer journalists' questions on the matter. He is wanted on the territory of Ukraine, but not internationally. The Ukrainian authorities did not address the Moldovan authorities with a request for Ignatiev's detention and extradition.