DONETSK, March 11 - Businessman Rinat Akhmetov has called on the new administration of Ukraine not to exacerbate the situation in the southeastern part of Ukraine and release Mykhailo Dobkin, former head of the Kharkiv regional administration, who has been detained.

An address issued by Akhmetov, which was obtained by Interfax on Tuesday, says: "I am addressing the new administration. The political and psychological situation in southeastern Ukraine is now very difficult. When the authorities take one of the leaders of the east into custody, it only exacerbates the situation in the region. Whether Mykhailo Dobkin is guilty or not should be determined by an independent court following a comprehensive investigation."