Former Ukrainian Interior Minister and People's Self-Defense Party leader Yuriy Lutsenko has said that he is innocent and described himself as a political prisoner.
"I swear before God and people that I am not guilty of what I’m being accused of at the highest command of the Prosecutor General’s Office. The only reason for my imprisonment in a condemned cell at Lukianivka jail is to deprive me of any chance to speak out about the resumption of bandit democracy in Ukraine," the press service of the People’s Self-Defense Party quoted Lutsenko as saying.
He also said that he had become "a prisoner of war of criminals who seized power in Ukraine." Lutsenko said that the goal of the current authorities is "to destroy their political opponents and establish an atmosphere of fear in order to rob the country and the people without any obstacles."
Lutsenko called on Ukrainians to unite, and added that "the resistance of people is the only thing the authorities are afraid of."
"This year is a period of the civil position of everybody. The pendulum of Ukrainian history has swung into a dark time. It all depends on the ability of Ukrainians to protect their families, their souls and their history. Don’t lose your heart! Don’t be silent! We are united!" he said.
On Dec. 13, Lutsenko and his former driver Leonid Prystupliuk were charged with the large-scale embezzlement of state property worth UAH 360,000, as well as the abuse of power and the use of forged documents.
On Dec. 26, Lutsenko was detained near his house. On December 27, Pechersky District Court of Kyiv ordered Lutsenko to be jailed for two months. On December 28, it became known that Lutsenko had been moved from a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) prison to Lukianivka Prison No.13.
On Jan. 17, Lutsenko’s lawyer Ihor Fomin filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights regarding Lutsenko’s alleged illegal arrest.
