Poroshenko Dismissed Ukraine’s Ambassador to Slovakia after a Smuggling Scandal

On June 3, President Poroshenko sacked Ukraine’s Ambassador to Slovakia Oleh Havashi. This decision followed a scandal involving smuggling cigarettes across the Ukrainian—Slovak border.

On Monday, May 23, a Ukrainian citizen was about to smuggle almost 60,000 packs of cigarettes to the EU under the guise of diplomatic cargo. As reported on the official website of Zakarpattia Governor Hennadii Moskal [ed.: the text of the web-site is in the Ukrainian language], the offence was committed by Serhii Lishchyshyn, the husband of the First Secretary of Ukrainian Embassy to Slovakia. The letter that enabled this smuggling was signed by the offender’s wife.

His minivan with diplomatic plates was stopped as the customs officers suspected the smuggling. After receiving the Foreign Ministry permit, they seized smuggled cigarettes and the vehicle with a total value of over ₴880,000 ($35,000).

As reported by a Ministry source, the MFA consequently recalled the First Secretary Oksana Lishchyshyn from her mission. The Ministry also confirmed the information that the First Secretary had unexpectedly taken leave: "The decision to grant leave is against the MFA’s wishes. The Ministry leadership has officially decided conversely – to recall her from her mission abroad. Instead of leave, the diplomat should return to Ukraine," the interlocutor said. He was also surprised that Ambassador Oleh Havashi had let her employee take leave in such circumstances.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda