«The presumption of innocence applies in Estonia, and with this decision the supervisory board does not take a position on Johanna Maria Lehtme's guilt. We have initiated a review, but unfortunately it will take time to reach the results. That is why we are ready to comprehensively cooperate with the investigative authorities and will pass on all the information at our disposal to the investigators. The same questions are have been relevant for us since the beginning of March; unfortunately, the supervisory board has not found answers to them with its limited rights and opportunities,» the announcement by the supervisory board of Slava Ukraini reads.
«Therefore, we welcome the criminal proceedings launched in Estonia and Ukraine enabling the law enforcement agencies to determine as quickly as possible if the donations sent from Estonia to Ukraine have been misused or not,» the board added.
The supervisory board decided that in order to prevent a possible conflict of interests, Lehtme is to be recalled from the management board effective from Tuesday until the end of the investigation. The management board will continue with one member, Marika Priske.
The Office of the Prosecutor General launched criminal proceedings on Tuesday pursuant to the section of the Penal Code dealing with embezzlement to investigate the use of funds collected by Slava Ukraini for supporting Ukraine.