The Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Viktor Yanukovych for inciting desertion and illegal smuggling of persons across the border.
The Kyiv Court of Appeals did not satisfy the appeals of Viktor Yanukovych’s defense and left the sentence of the former president of Ukraine unchanged. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for inciting desertion and illegally smuggling people across the state border. This was reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine.
The court also rejected the appeal of the former head of the State Security Department of Ukraine – the head of the Presidential Security Service during Yanukovych’s time. His sentence remained in effect – 10 years in prison for organizing an illegal border crossing.
The prosecution proved that on February 23, 2014, Viktor Yanukovych, acting in collusion with the former head of the Presidential Security Service and with the support of the Russian military, illegally left the territory of Ukraine. He organized the transfer of approximately 20 people from his immediate entourage and security. The flight was carried out by three military helicopters of the Russian Armed Forces from the Urzuf region to the city of Yeysk, and later via Anapa to Crimea by military transport aircraft.
In Sevastopol, Yanukovych persuaded security officers to desert, after which some of them went with him by sea to the Russian Federation. The entire route was under the control of the Russian military and was agreed upon directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In addition, Viktor Yanukovych was sentenced to 13 years in prison for a series of crimes, including high treason and aiding Russia in the war against Ukraine.
