Yanukovych files lawsuit against Ukraine with ECHR
Ex-president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych has filed the lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as he believes that his rights have been violated.
According to UNIAN Ukrainian news agency, this is stated in the official release published by the Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP law firm, which represents interests of Viktor Yanukovych and his son Oleksandr.
According to the document, the ex-president asks the Court to declare violations of his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to a fair trial (Article 6), the right to an effective investigation of attempts made upon his life and the right to protection (Article 2), and the right not to be discriminated against because of his political status and opinions (Article 14).
Yanukovych’s lawyer, Joe Hage, said that “there is no doubt that the Ukrainian prosecution authorities are under huge political pressure to secure convictions in relation to false criminal allegations, including those constructed to provide a basis for the EU sanctions listing against President Yanukovych.”
On July 27, the Kyiv Court recognized the validity of arguments and evidence provided by the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine, and started the trial in absentia. Yanukovych’s defense later appealed this trial procedure. On August 11, the Appeals Court in Kyiv dismissed the appeal.
According to the head of the Special Investigations Unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office Serhiy Horbatiuk, five criminal proceedings were initiated against Yanukovych on charges of involvement in the crimes committed during Maidan protest (making law enforcement officers exceed their authority resulting in grave consequences, including murders; setting up of a criminal organization; appropriation of Sukholuchchia forest and buildings and land plots in Mezhyhirya; embezzlement of budget funds to create special telecommunication line for public authorities).
The lawyers of ex-President claim that the accusations were made under pressure and are based on untrue facts.
