13 years in prison for Ukrainian Ex-President Yanukovych

A Ukrainian court has sentenced Ex-President Yanukovych in absentia to 13 years in prison - for treason, and aid in the management of an attack of war. Yanukovych is in Russia on asylum.

The former Ukrainian head of state Viktor Yanukovych, has been convicted by a court in Kiev in absentia to 13 years in prison. The judges saw it proven that the 68-Year-old high-treason committed, and aid in the conduct of a war of aggression done, reported local media. The prosecution had demanded 15 years.

The judge Vladislav Dewjatko said, by his "illegal, intentional acts" of Yanukovych, the national security of Ukraine is undermined. The prosecution had accused Yanukovych, among other things, to have after his deposition and the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia favors. In a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he had on 1. March 2014 the deployment of troops to restore public order asked. He had governed the Ukraine since his election victory against Ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in February 2010.

The charge of aiding in the annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea by Russia has been dropped. That was the view of the court there is not sufficient evidence.

defence: proceedings of a politically motivated

The defense looks at the proceedings as politically motivated. "There is no doubt that the court has been working under the pressure of the current government," said lawyer Alexander Goroschinski after the verdict. This is a PR campaign before the presidential elections on October 31. March and the court a parody. Yanukovych should be condemned at any cost.

The process was conducted in the absence of the defendant since may of 2017. It is expected, therefore, that the commencement of his sentence. Yanukovych took part via video conference from his Russian exile. More than 50 high-level witnesses, including the current head of state, Petro Poroshenko, Ex-Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, were interviewed. The judgment is not yet final.

2014 discontinued

Yanukovych was deposed in February 2014, after weeks of violent clashes with almost 100 dead on the Maidan in Kiev-place after Russia. The Ukrainian Parliament had him at 22. February 2014 declared deposed. The authorities have asked Russia repeatedly in vain Yanukovych's extradition.

The Maidan in Kiev after the escalation (file photo)