KIEV, June 8 – Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), the country’s largest passenger airline company, accused Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan of giving preferential treatment to Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, which intends to start flights to Ukraine.

The complaint was voiced in an official UIA announcement, in response to Omelyan's criticism that UIA has a monopoly.

"UIA is against lobbyism and Omelyan's efforts to create preferential conditions for one business entity, a low-cost carrier. Media reports say the minister in March 2017 secretly signed a memorandum with Ryanair in which, contrary to law, the company is granted preferential treatment. UIA views the actions of the minister as illegal and possibly corrupt, benefitting third persons," the statement says.