MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) – Eduard Golenko, Minister of Coal and Energy of  self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, has been arrested as part of a criminal case on embezzling 100 million rubles ($1.8 million), the press service of the local Interior Ministry reports Tuesday.

Along with Golenko, other 21 officials were arrested; 17 of them were put in detention, the statement reads.

According to the Interior Ministry of self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Golenko has organized a gang to embezzle funds of government enterprises subordinated to the Ministry of Coal and Energy under the guise of inventory supplies and provision of services. Investigators claim that starting January 2017, Golenko and his alleged accomplices stole over 100 million rubles.