Yanukovych named accomplice in Russian aggression against Ukraine

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has been named a suspect in criminal charges of treason and being an accomplice in Russian aggression against Ukraine, as announced on Nov. 28 by Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko during a break in testimony offered by Yanukovych by video conference from Russia.

Yanukovych was an accomplice to Russia in deliberately changing the territory and state borders of Ukraine, violating the constitutional order and conducting a war of aggression, Lutsenko said, citing a letter allegedly signed on March 1, 2014 requesting that Russian President Putin deploy his military on Ukrainian soil. Yanukovych has already been named a suspect in about 10 other criminal charges, Lutsenko said.

Similar actions can be taken against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is currently residing in Russia and has called for the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, Lutsenko said.

Zenon Zawada: It took nearly three years for this step to be taken, which speaks to the ruin that Ukrainian law enforcement found itself in, following the collapse of the Yanukovych administration. This step clears the path for criminal charges to be filed, but Yanukovych is currently living in Russia and unlikely to attend trial should these charges ever be brought to court. Regardless, they are necessary in establishing justice and bringing some closure to these tragic events.