Poroshenko says not afraid of imprisonment
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Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that he is not afraid of being convicted under numerous criminal cases that are being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), as he has enough mechanisms of protection.
Poroshenko said this during the Rendezvous program on Ukraine's Channel 5 on Sunday, September 22.

While commenting on a likelihood of his imprisonment if the courts issue rulings not in his favor, he said he was not afraid of pressure from some government officials.

"I'm not afraid of anyone and anything. My political party is not afraid of anyone. Nothing will work for them. I was in opposition for many years. These boys are not the first to want to imprison Poroshenko. [...] There were assaults on Channel [5] in 2003, in 2004, and then in 2007-2008 and in 2012- 2013. [...] Nothing will work for them. [...] Mr. Yanukovych [former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych] was walking the same path being walked now by the SBI, with the 'blessing' of Head of the Office of the President Andriy Bohdan, a close partner of Andriy Portnov. [...] Nothing will work for them," Poroshenko said.

He noted that criminal proceedings against him would eventually turn against the whole country.

"It will be a blow, first of all, not to Poroshenko. It will be a blow to the Ukrainian authorities and the state of Ukraine, regarding the return to political persecution. [...] If it is their choice, we'll fight. [...] We have enough mechanisms of protection," Poroshenko said.

As was reported earlier, Andriy Portnov, deputy head of the Presidential Administration under President Viktor Yanukovych, upon his return to Ukraine began to file applications to the SBI accusing Poroshenko of a number of crimes. The SBI is currently investigating at least 13 criminal cases involving Poroshenko.