KYIV, Oct 31 – Anton Polyakov, a young Ukrainian lawmaker who collapsed and died earlier this month, had been murdered, Hanna Skorokhod, a Ukrainian lawmaker who was engaged to Polyakov, said Sunday.

Skorokhod, who spoke for the first time since Polyakov’s sudden death in a cab on Oct. 8, has accused police of making misleading and false statements about the case.

“I would like to openly declare to the entire country that Anton Polyakov was murdered,” Skorokhod said in an interview with Ukraine 24 television aired Sunday.

The explosive comment rejects official statements made by police that Polyakov may have died of natural causes. Police later also alleged that Polyakov may have used a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol hours prior to his sudden death.

"I am very upset with all the dirt that is pouring and pouring, and the lies that are spread, in particular, by law enforcement agencies and that have nothing to do with the truth,” Skorokhod said.

"I can openly and clearly, with 100% confidence, assure you that no matter what situation Anton was in, he would never resort to drugs," she said.

Polyakov, 33, was found unconscious in the back seat of a taxi on Oct. 8 after it was stopped by police for a traffic offence. The driver said the passenger had got in near a public transport stop outside the city downtown and then complained of feeling sick.

Kyiv police chief Ivan Vyhovsky told a briefing that Polyakov had been to a restaurant and had drunk alcohol. “We are inclined to believe that it was a natural death," he said.

Skorokhod denied these statements. She said police has never bothered to question her or check his personal belongings as part of investigation.

"They didn't come to our home, they didn't ask me about his personal belongings, I wasn't questioned,” she said.

“I had never said that Anton died of natural causes. I will keep repeating that Anton Polyakov was killed,” Skorokhod said. “I think you and I will find out who killed him and how.”

Skorokhod and Polyakov were engaged and planned to get married next month.

Polyakov was a member of the "For the Future" party, having defected from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's ruling "Servant of the People" party over policy disagreements.

"For the Future", which has 22 lawmakers, is associated in the Ukrainian media with Ihor Kolomoisky, one of the country's richest men, though Kolomoisky has not publicly associated himself with the party.

Polyakov had been attacked by an unknown person in September 2020, and required medical attention, according to a police statement at the time.

Polyakov sat on Parliament's anti-corruption committee. Graft is one of Ukraine's biggest problems, and an obstacle to its bid to join the European Union and NATO. (tl/ez)