Ukrainian court to try Yanukovych case in absentia

The Obolonsky District Court in Kyiv on June 29 allowed an absentee trial of the high treason case against Ukraine’s fugitive ex-President Viktor Yanukovych.

The judges made the ruling after a one-hour deliberation. The decision cannot be appealed.

The presiding judge Vladyslav Devyatko announced the decision after Yanukovych, who now lives in Russia, failed to show up in the court.

“Not only did the defendant fail to arrive in the court but he also did not take an opportunity to take part in the court hearings via a video conference,” Devyatko said.

The ex-president’s lawyer Vitaliy Serdyuk said Yanukovych could not attend the hearings because it would put his life under threat.

The court will proceed with the case on July 6.

Yanukovych is charged with a number of crimes, including violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, high treason, and waging a war or aggressive military actions. Yanukovych has previously denied any wrongdoing of the kind.

The accusations are based on the ex-president’s actions during the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2013-2014, including his alleged attempt to get military help from Russia in order to preserve his power.

The prosecution is seeking a life sentence for the ex-president.

Yanukovych’s lawyers asked prosecutors to explain to them the meaning of the indictment during the next session, calling it “an empty bill.”

The court on June 29 also determined the procedure for examining evidence in the trial. First, the court will study evidence from both sides, including photos and videos.

The previous meeting of the Obolonsky District Court took place on June 26. Back then the court postponed the hearing of the case because Yanukovych failed to attend. Now the court will proceed with the trial in absentia.

According to the Obolonsky District Court schedule for July-August the hearings in the case of Yanukovych will take place on July 6, July 12, July 13, Aug. 3, Aug.10, Aug. 17, Aug.23, and Aug. 31.