On January 24, the Obolonsky district court of Kiev found Ukraine’s ex-president Viktor Yanukovych guilty in a case of state treason.

“The court, after hearing witnesses, examining the evidence of experts, documents and material evidence, evaluating the arguments of the defense and the prosecution, believes that the accused’s guilt of committing crimes ... is proved by appropriate and admissible evidence,” the judge quoted RIA Novosti.

In this case, the ex-president was acquitted under the article on an attempt to change the state border. According to the court, the evidence presented by the prosecution is not enough.

“Provided by the prosecution and the evidence examined by the court prove the guilt of the accused Yanukovych only in committing the crimes stipulated by part 1 of article 111 (state change. - RT ), part 5 of article 27 (aiding. - RT ), part 2 of article 437 (waging aggressive war or aggressive military operations -. RT) of the Criminal Code, but not a crime under part 5 of article 27 (aiding -. RT), part 3 of article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, which led to the death or Drew their heavy consequences -. RT) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ", - added the judge.

Thus, the court sentenced Yanukovych in absentia to 13 years in prison, his property was still arrested. He is also obliged to cover the court costs in the amount of $ 3.5 thousand. At first, the prosecution demanded a life sentence, then 15 years in prison.

Yanukovych himself categorically denies his guilt. His defense stated that the sentence handed down by the Obolonsky Court would be appealed.

“The appeal will be filed by the defense unequivocally, since we are not satisfied with the sentence that was passed,” said Yanukovich’s lawyer, Alexander Baydik.

Under Ukrainian law, an appeal can be filed within 30 days after a court decision was made, before it entered into force.

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"The verdict is politically motivated"

In the opinion of the defense, the verdict was politically motivated. This was stated by another lawyer Yanukovych Alexander Goroshinsky.

“This verdict is politically motivated for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Obolonsky Court was exclusively under the control of the leaders of Ukraine, and they actually formed the evidence base of the prosecution. That is, all of their witnesses are political opponents of Viktor Yanukovich, ”he told RT.

In this regard, the defense will contact international organizations, Goroshinsky added.

“In addition, we have already applied and will apply to international organizations. In particular, to the US Embassy and European institutions so that they give us an appropriate assessment, ”he added.

The third lawyer of Yanukovych, Vitaly Serdyuk, believes that the main task of the trial in Kiev was to exempt the perpetrators of the tragedy on the “Maidan” in 2014, who are now in the power of Ukraine.

“The real culprits are in power and, realizing their responsibility and possible punishment, initiated this process to rewrite the official history of 2014 and shift the responsibility from their shoulders onto the shoulders of President Viktor Yanukovych,” he said in an interview with RT.

At the same time Serdyuk said that soon the defense of Yanukovych will publish evidence of the guilt of these persons to the events on the "Maidan" in 2014.

“The defense has collected, published and will be published a lot of evidence of the involvement of a number of Ukrainian officials in these events. These materials will soon be published together with a reasonable statement about the crime they committed, and even with the draft indictment to these persons, ”Serdyuk stressed.

The lawyer added that these materials will be transferred to international organizations and the competent authorities of the partner countries of Ukraine.

"The court is under complete control of the authorities"

In Russia, they also consider that the Obolonsky Court of Kiev in its decision was subordinate to the current leadership of Ukraine. Thus, the first deputy chairman of the committee of the Federation Council on international affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov, noted that it would be beneficial for the Ukrainian authorities to legally formalize Yanukovych as an enemy on the eve of the elections.

“In all countries, the court is the highest authority that determines the guilt of a person. But in this case we are talking about the Kiev court, which is under the complete control of the current Kiev authorities. Therefore, a decision was made that favored the ruling elite. And on the threshold of elections, she needs to finally make Yanukovych an enemy of the people, ”he told RT.

Moreover, the sentence handed down to Yanukovych is advantageous specifically to the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, who is seeking to raise his political rating, said State Duma Deputy Ruslan Balbek in an interview with RT.

“They can give any term, there will be no obstacles. They may even select a camera with empty planks, they say, sooner or later it will get there. All this is only to show the electorate that everything is fair with Poroshenko’s power, all the criminals are convicted, vote for Pyotr Alekseevich and you will not lose, ”said the deputy.

It should also be borne in mind that, because of the threat of persecution, Yanukovych could not be present in the courtroom, and therefore fully participate in the process and protect himself, reminded Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of Russia.

“Considering that the courts strongly depend on the incumbent President Poroshenko, while Yanukovych himself could not fully participate in the process and defend himself, it is necessary to find out all the details and then say with full confidence that all the grounds are insignificant,” the expert emphasized.