Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Friday he would resign , a day after the country 's Ministry of Justice said he would be charged with breach of trust and fraud . He said in a statement that he must resign from his government position `` in light of the circumstances of the case and details of the indictment . '' Liberman maintains he has `` not violated any laws . '' His resignation comes five weeks ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for January 22 . Immediately following the announcement of the charges , Liberman said he would fight to stay in office . However , less than 24 hours later he had changed his mind after looking over the charges with his attorneys and advisers on campaign law . Liberman is a big player in the current political makeup of Israel and had just formed a coalition with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party , Likud . But Liberman 's statement gave a hint that he may try to settle the case before the snap election is held . `` I am doing this also because I believe that the citizens of Israel are entitled to go to the polls after the matter has been decided on , that is to say , that a legal ruling will be decided on before the elections and this way I will be able to continue to serve the state of Israel and its citizens as part of a strong , united leadership that would tackle the security , diplomatic , and economic challenges facing Israel , '' the statement said . Liberman 's party , Yisrael Beiteinu , said he will remain on the ticket and still run in the upcoming elections . The charges of breach of trust and fraud relate to a case dating to 2009 . Prosecutors said Liberman pushed to get the Israeli Ambassador to Belarus posted to another country after the diplomat allegedly handed over confidential information that included details of a secret police inquiry pertaining to Liberman . However , Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said Thursday that Liberman would not face more serious corruption charges including money laundering and witness tampering , because of insufficient evidence . That decision closed a case that has spanned more than a decade and allegedly involved hundreds of millions of dollars transferred through foreign businessmen to companies Liberman owned while he was serving as a Knesset member and minister . He has long denied all the allegations . `` I have always operated according to the law and I have no reason to worry , '' Liberman said last year . Liberman has faced international criticism for his hard-line stance on Israel 's Arab minorities . His ultra-nationalist party , the second-largest in the governing coalition , is especially popular with immigrants from the former Soviet Union , where Liberman was born and raised . CNN 's Pierre Meilhan and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report .
NEW : Liberman hints that if charges are settled he may return to political arena . Avigdor Liberman is to be charged with breach of trust and fraud ; he denies wrongdoing . His party , Yisrael Beiteinu , is the second biggest in the governing coalition in Israel . Belarus is due to hold elections on last year .