Ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych was found guilty of addressing the Russian President Putin and asking him to deploy troops in Ukraine, as Vladyslav Devyatko, the judge of Kyiv Obolonsky Court, said while delivering the verdict, 112 Ukraine reported.
In particular, the court ruled that on March 2014 deliberately and violating Ukraine’s sovereignty Yanukovych sent a statement to Putin requesting to deploy Russia’s Armed Forces.
“Though the defence did not recognize guilt, the court considers that the guilt of the accused of committing crimes provided by Ukraine’s Criminal Code has been proved by appropriate and admissible evidence,” the judge said.
The Main Military Prosecutor’s Office passed the indictment on Yanukovych’s state treason case to the court in March 2017. The accused himself did not participate in the hearings, he is not in Ukraine hiding in Russia.
The prosecution asks to sentence ex-President for 15 years behind bars.