Other officials denounced the allegations about the Yushchenko campaign as a political ambush.
Acting Justice Minister Roman Zvarych said today that the allegations, even if true, would not constitute cause for impeachment.
"The word 'impeachment' is not a political term, and the president cannot be impeached for any political action," Zvarych said. "Only a crime can be a reason for starting impeachment procedures. If you talk about corpus delicti [body of crime], which gives a reason for impeachment, please refer to a specific article of the penal code."
Ukraine's first post-independence president, Leonid Kravchuk, is now a member of parliament and raised the charges yesterday. He said he has information that Berezovskii had provided at least $15 million to Yushchenko's campaign. If true, Kravchuk suggested, Yushchenko could be impeached.
Ukraine's Channel 5 quoted Berezovskii as saying that he had spoken with Kravchuk but that he had not told Kravchuk that he provided money for Yushchenko's campaign.
Ukraine has been embroiled in a major political crisis since Yushchenko dismissed the government of Yuliya Tymoshenko amid a flurry of suggestions that corruption was rampant and extended to the highest levels of government.
Berezovskii is wanted in Russia on fraud charges.
(Reuters)
Also see:
"Yushchenko Choice Represents 'Stopgap' Measure"