Ukraine’s security services on Tuesday said that they have taken into custody pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who is also Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s closest ally. Medvedchuk had been on the run for over a month after he escaped from house arrest.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a photo online of Medvedchuk with his hands in cuffs and dressed in a Ukrainian army uniform.

“A special operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine. Well done!” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

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Security agency chief Ivan Bakanov said agents carried out a “lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation to detain” the lawmaker.

“You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You may have been hiding from justice lately. You can even wear a Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage,” the security services said in an online post. 

“But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles are waiting for you and same goes for traitors to Ukraine like you.”

Medvedchuk, believed to be one of the richest persons in Ukraine, is a huge controversial figure. He is also the leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life party. The 67-year-old business tycoon said that Putin is godfather to his youngest daughter Darya.

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Last year, Medvedchuk was put under house arrest on treason charges over accusations of attempting to steal natural resources from Russia-annexed Crimea. He was also accused of handing Ukrainian military secrets to Moscow.

However, he denied all accusations.

It is believed that he reportedly escaped house arrest shortly after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Reuters reported.

The capture of Medvedchuk sparked anger in the Kremlin earlier. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday refused to comment on Medvedchuk’s detention, telling Russian news wires “there are a lot of fakes coming from Ukraine” and “this needs to be checked first,” Al Jazeera reported.