Ukraine ex-president Poroshenko summoned for questioning

Detectives from Ukraine's state investigation bureau have summoned former president Petro Poroshenko for questioning, the bureau said on Thursday. "We confirmed that he will be questioned," a bureau spokesman said. He declined to give a reason for the questioning, which will take place on July 17. A spokeswoman for Poroshenko had no comment but said one might be available later.

Poroshenko, owner of the country's biggest confectionery business, lost a presidential election in April to comedian and politician novice Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who campaigned on a promise to root out corruption. Zelenskiy ran for president despite having no political experience. He played a teacher in a TV comedy who unexpectedly became president after a pupil filmed his foul-mouthed tirade against corrupt politicians and posted the video online.

His party, Servant of the People, now leads in the campaign for parliamentary elections to be held on July 21 -- it had the backing of 37.8% of people who said they would vote, according to a poll conducted by KIIS research institute from June 25 to July 7. Poroshenko's European Solidarity party had the support of 7.2%, putting it in third place.