The court granted permission to place Yanukovych in custody for illegally crossing the border

Upon motion of the SBI, the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv granted permission to place the former president Viktor Yanukovych in custody (in absentia).

He is suspected of organizing the illegal movement of persons across the state border of Ukraine (Part 2 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation revealed that on February 23, 2014, the fugitive president with his accomplices illegally crossed the state border of Ukraine by three helicopters of the russian armed forces and landed at the military airfield on the territory of the russian federation.

The "evacuation" of the president from the outskirts of the village Urzuf, Manhush district, Donetsk region, was assisted by representatives of the russian security structures.

As of today, four persons are suspected in criminal proceedings. Apart from Yanukovych, who directly led the illegal transfer of persons across the state border, the Ukrainian State Guard Service officers and a civilian were notified of suspicion.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Prosecutor General’s Office.