However, the judge ordered the confiscation of his passport. All conditions are initially valid for two months and can be extended.
The opposition leader rejected the allegations and spoke of a politically motivated process that would continue regardless of the court’s decision. “The withdrawal of my passport is hampering my political activity,” Poroshenko said. If convicted, he faces 15 years in prison. He was head of state of the ex-Soviet republic from 2014 to 2019.
Specifically, he is accused of doing business deals with the Moscow-backed separatists in the east of the country during his tenure. According to reports, coal supply contracts worth the equivalent of almost 100 million euros have been concluded. However, significantly less money is said to have flowed. Investigators accuse him of acting in the interests of Russian officials. Ukraine sees itself at war with neighboring Russia.
The ex-president only returned to the country on Monday after a stay abroad. Observers had not ruled out that he could be arrested at the airport upon arrival. Hundreds of supporters had gathered.
If he runs again, according to current polls, Poroshenko would go into a runoff election with his successor Volodymyr Zelenskyj. In 2019, the head of the European Solidarity party lost significantly to the former hope Zelenskyj, who has so far left open whether he will stand in the presidential election planned for 2024.