You're reading: Court’s sitting on Lutsenko’s case put off until Oct. 26

Kyiv Pechersky District Court had to put off the hearing of a criminal case against former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko due to the absence of the defense lawyers.

Both lawyers had notified the court about their absence in advance, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

The court postponed the court’s sitting until 09.10 on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Lutsenko has been held in jail since Dec. 26, 2010. Kyiv Court of Appeals on April 21 extended Lutsenko’s arrest until May 26, and after that he announced his intention to go on hunger strike from April 22.

On Sept. 1, Lutsenko’s defense team and family claimed that his health and life were in danger. His wife said that he had been diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis, which could lead to cancer if not treated.

On Sept. 22, 2011, the leadership of Kyiv’s pre-trial detention center gave Lutsenko the results of his medical examination, along with a conclusion and recommendations from the Ukrainian Health Ministry’s commission.

On Sept. 27, Kyiv’s Pechersky District Court has rejected a petition to hospitalize Lutsenko, which was filed by the ex-minister’s defense team due to his poor health.

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