KIEV, January 17 (RIA Novosti) – A Ukrainian children's rights activist says he is seeking political asylum in Russia following an assassination attempt against him at home.

Mykola Kozhushko, head of the Dnepropetrovsk-based NGO Pomozhem Detyam, or Help Children, claims he has been targeted after blowing the whistle on criminals involved in fraud schemes with apartments allotted for orphans.

“I’ve appealed to the Russian president with a letter asking for political asylum in Russia,” Kozhushko said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

Kozhushko said he left Ukraine after he had been attacked by unknown people at a Dnepropetrovsk hospital earlier this month. As a Ukrainian citizen, he is eligible to stay in Russia for three months. The Kremlin hasn't responded to the appeal yet.

Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a criminal case on attempted assassination charges.