You're reading: Statement: Yanukovych calls Obolonsky district court’s decision on transition to debates illegal

Disgraced ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych considers illegal the decision of Obolonsky District Court of Kyiv on the transition to the judicial debate stage of the trial.

“The Obolonsky court has passed an unlawful decision on the completion of the court hearings and the transition to the debate. (…) The court is in a hurry …,” reads Yanukovych’s statement, posted by the press service of the Aver Lex law company, which lawyers represent the interests of the ex-President.

According to Yanukovych, it isn’t he who is being tried, but “the authorities … are passing judgment on millions of Ukrainians who voted for me.”

As reported, on April 19, Kyiv’s Obolonsky District Court on the case of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s high treason announced the transition to the stage of judicial debate.

Prosecutors of the Main Military Prosecutor’s Office said they were ready for debate.

In turn, Yanukovych’s lawyers protested. “This decision is illegal. Not all witnesses have been questioned. This decision was taken under political pressure. We have not questioned more than 10 defense witnesses,” said lawyer Vitaliy Serdiuk. After disputes with prosecutors and the court, he and his colleagues left the courtroom.

The next meetings are scheduled for May 3 and May 4.