The trial for “high treason” of pro-Russian deputy Viktor Medvedchuk begins behind closed doors in Ukraine

June 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The trial for “high treason” and looting of public coffers against pro-Russian Ukrainian deputy Viktor Medvedchuk began this Thursday behind closed doors in a district court in the city of Lviv.

Medvedchuk, a deputy for the now-banned Opposition Platform for Life party, is accused of leaking secret information to a unit of Russian forces and seizing natural resources from Crimea.

The hearing took place behind closed doors at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds that giving access to the media “may give rise to the disclosure of secrets protected by law”, while at the same time “guaranteeing the security of the persons involved in this criminal proceeding”.

“The access of people outside the process is limited” due “to the accusations against Medvedchuk for his activities with the main leaders of the aggressor country to the detriment of the interests of Ukraine, as well as by martial law, and that the presence in court of people who do not participate in the process can threaten our security and defense”, said the Prosecutor’s Office.

The petition has also had the approval of Medvedchuk’s defense, in custody since April 12, the date on which he was arrested again after having been a fugitive since February 27, three days after the Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the start of the war in Ukraine.

Although his lawyers have been present, Medvedchuk has participated in the hearing via videoconference from the facilities of the kyiv Court of Appeal, the city where he is being held. If convicted, he could face prison terms of up to 15 years.

According to the conclusions published in May 2021 of the Prosecutor’s Office investigation, Medvedchuk and his party colleague and also a deputy, Taras Kozak, would have negotiated access to the Hlíboka deposit in the Black Sea with Russian forces, and maneuvered to extract minerals. irregularly from Crimea.

After his last arrest, Medvedchuk was again accused of high treason in relation to his alleged role as a collaborator with the Russian forces in the context of the war with Ukraine, 154 assets were seized, including vehicles, land and real estate, and actions were confiscated. of some twenty companies of which he was a beneficiary.