You're reading: Lutsenko pleads not guilty, agrees to testify in court

Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges brought against him, and agreed to testify in court.

The former minister announced this during a meeting of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv after the charges were read, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

Lutsenko described the charges brought against him as "far-fetched and politically motivated."

Pechersky District Court of Kyiv will continue hearing the criminal case against former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko at 09:30 on August 11.

At its next meeting, the court will question witnesses, the injured party and study the case materials, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

Then the court will question the defendants and decide if there is a need to hold an additional pre-trial investigation.

On December 13, 2010, Lutsenko and his driver Leonid Prystupliuk were charged with embezzlement, abuse of office and the use of forged documents.

Lutsenko was arrested on December 26, 2010. The court ruled that he be placed in custody as a pre-trial restriction.