Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych placed under EU sanctions
Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (Illustrative image).
REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The European Union considers that Viktor Yanukovych, living in Russia, plays “
a role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
”.
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In a statement published Thursday, August 4 in the official journal of the EU, member countries accuse the former Ukrainian president of plotting to try to return to power in Ukraine if the Russian invasion succeeds in overthrowing President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"
According to different sources, Mr.
Viktor Yanukovych
was part of a special Russian operation aimed at replacing the Ukrainian president with him, during the first stages of the illegal military aggression against Ukraine
," the newspaper said.
His son Oleksandr was also placed under sanction for the same reason and for having "
carried out transactions with separatist groups in the Donbass region
".
The 49-year-old is accused of enriching himself through connections in his father's former regime and owning businesses and real estate in the self-proclaimed '
republics
' of Donetsk and Lugansk, controlled territories by pro-Russian forces in the Donbass.
As sanctioned persons, Viktor Yanukovych and his son will be subject to an EU visa ban and a freeze on any assets held in EU countries.
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To read also Ukraine: what has become of former President Yanukovych?
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Ukraine
Russia
Viktor Yanukovych