KIEV - President Viktor Yushchenko, leader of Ukraine's "orange revolution" last year, denied Thursday that the arrest of a regional official in the east of the country was politically motivated.
"I promise you that neither individuals, nor political forces will be persecuted. There will be no political persecution in Ukraine," Yushchenko said in the eastern town of Dnipropetrovsk, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
"Allow the security forces and the bodies defending rights and liberties the chance to work normally," he said.
Yushchenko was responding to opposition accusations that the arrest earlier this month of one of the main politicians in the eastern Donetsk region had political motives.
Boris Kolesnikov, chairman of the regional assembly there, was arrested on charges of abusing power and making death threats. He faces seven to 12 years in prison if found guilty.
Kolesnikov is close to Viktor Yanukovich, the candidate defeated by Yushchenko in repeat presidential elections last year. The first, scheduled attempt at holding elections was annulled amid accusations of vote-rigging by Yanukovich and mass street protests dubbed the "orange revolution."
04/14/2005 16:13 GMT