MOSCOW, July 9 (RAPSI) - This Wednesday, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow authorized the arrest of the Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov in absentia, a RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom. The judge upheld a petition by the Russian prosecution.

Arsen Avakov and Governor of the Dnepropetrovsk Region Igor Kolomoisky have been charged in Russia for organized murder and use of prohibited means of war. They were put on the international wanted list. Earlier this month, the Basmanny court approved Kolomoisky’s arrest in absentia.

In mid-April, Kiev officials started a military operation against supporters of eastern Ukraine’s independence who did not recognize the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian government after the February coup. Moscow calls the operation punitive, as it has already caused numerous victims on both sides, including among civilians. The Kremlin urges Kiev to stop the operation immediately.