The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine has opened a criminal case against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for actions aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order and the seizure of power.
“The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has registered a criminal
proceeding qualified as a crime under Part 2 of Article 109 of the
Criminal Code of Ukraine (actions aimed at changing or overthrowing the
constitutional order or at the seizure of power) in the Unified Register
of Pretrial Investigations,” reports the press service of the PGO.
It has been established that an official statement by
Yanukovych appeared in press on February 27. He declared himself current
President of Ukraine and asked the Russian authorities to grant him
refuge from the actions of extremists.
In addition, the Yanukovych’s decree No. 90/2014 dated February 27,
2014 was distributed in press. “The document indicates that a military
takeover took place in Ukraine, as the result of which the Supreme High
Command General Headquarters are to be relocated to Sevastopol. Foreign
Ministry and National Bank of Ukraine are then relocated to Sevastopol
as well. Besides, the decree indicates the necessity of other actions
aimed at the restoration of Yanukovych’s power and authority,” reads the
press service’s statement.
These appeals indicate that Yanukovych publicly called for a takeover
of power in Ukraine, according to the press service of the Prosecutor
General’s Office.
As reported, on March 1, the PGO started reviewing Yanukovych’s
actions to find evidence of actions aimed at the seizure of power.
“The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine is reviewing citizen
Viktor Yanukovych’s actions to find evidence of a crime under Article
109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (actions aimed at forcible changing
or overthrowing of the constitutional order and seizure of power). The
sanctions of this article foresee punishment by imprisonment for up to
10 years,” reports the press service of the PGO.
Earlier, the Main Investigatory Department of the Prosecutor
General’s Office of Ukraine announced Yanukovych a suspect in the
organization of the deliberate killing of people committed in a way,
which was dangerous to the lives of many persons. He was suspected of
conspiring with a group of people to commit mass murder and also abuse
of power and office.
