Melnychenko refuses to meet with Ukrainian diplomats

KYIV, August 7 /UKRINFORM/. Former Major of the State Guard Mykola Melnychenko during a trial in the Italian Naples on Monday refused to communicate with representatives of Ukraine's Consulate General, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov told a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Mykola Melnychenko has refused from talking with representatives of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples," he said.

As reported, the Court of Naples on Monday did not take a final decision on extradition of Melnychenko. According to him, he flatly refused from a forced return to Ukraine, attributing this to a threat to his life.

Mykola Melnychenko is suspected of abuse of office, divulging state secrets and creating artificial prosecution evidence. September 23, 2011, he was put on the wanted list. August 3, Melnychenko was detained at the airport of Naples on a warrant issued by the Ukrainian Interpol Bureau. He arrived in Naples by a flight from Washington.