Kiev, entire leadership of the customs agency dismissed

(ANSA) - ROME, FEBRUARY 01 - The Ukrainian authorities have fired "the entire leadership of the country's customs agency" and carried out "searches in the state tax service", also in view of the talks on reforms between Kiev and the European Union on Fridays.

The interim head of the Kiev tax service, Oksana Datiy, is suspected of illegal operations worth over 15 billion hryvnias (over 375 million euros).

This is what emerges from statements by the leader of the parliamentary majority, David Arakhamia, and news from the national media.

   Ukrainian investigators released photos of assets found during a search of Oksana Datiy's home, also accused of "looking the other way" over unpaid taxes of 45 billion Ukrainian hryvnias ($1.2 billion).

The State bureau of investigations (SBI) said it found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, as well as watches and luxury cars, in Datiy's home.

   (HANDLE).