Police catch wanted Ukranian former minister in Valencia

UKRANIAN former finance minister Yuri Kolobov has been arrested in Altea, Alicante, by the Valencia branch of the Guardia Civil police force.

Interpol had issued an international arrest order for the former minister, who was part of the team led by former president Viktor Yanukovich and had fled the country after the leader was forced from power in February 2014.

Ukraine is still trying to recover billions worth of assets which disappeared during the time the former president was in charge, and Mr Kolobov is wanted by Kiev authorities under suspicion of committing crimes under Section 5, Article 191 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, dealing with gross appropriation of property and embezzlement.

The authorities suspect that Kolobov may have been hiding out in Valencia with relatives and bodyguards since last August.