MOSCOW, August 4 (RAPSI) - Interpol is searching for former Ukrainian minister of energy Eduard Stavitsky, the agency said on its website.  According to Stavitsky’s Interpol profile, he is wanted in Ukraine for large-scale misappropriation and embezzlement of property through abuse of authority.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office added Stavitsky to the wanted list last March. The ex-minister is facing criminal charges.

Stavitsky is wanted in a criminal case that was opened against the owner of the VETEK investment company, Serhiy Kurchenko. Kurchenko is on the international wanted list for suspicion of misappropriation of Ukrgazdobycha (a Naftogaz subsidiary) property. Stavitsky has reportedly fled to Italy.

On February 22 in Ukraine, a change of power took place as a result of a coup. Verkhovna Rada impeached President Viktor Yanukovych, amended the constitution and scheduled a presidential election for May 25. Petro Poroshenko was elected as the new president.