KIEV, March 29 – The judicial authorities in Italy decided on Thursday to put the former head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration and leader of the regional branch of the Batkivschyna Party, Arsen Avakov, into custody for 40 days, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office reported.

"On March 29, the judicial authorities in Italy decided on temporary detention for a period of 40 days for Arsen Avakov, who was arrested on March 26 in the city of Frosinone (Italy)," the statement reads.