Kyiv’s Obolonsky District Court could not start a hearing of the case on the treason of former President Viktor Yanukovych due to the protests of his private lawyers.
After the beginning of the court session on August 16, lawyer Vitaliy Serdiuk, while in the corridor of the court in front of the entrance to the courtroom, protested against the court’s actions. He demonstrated an instruction from Yanukovych, in which he banned state attorney Yuriy Riabovol, who was appointed for him on August 2, from representing his interests in this trial.
“Lawyer Riabovol has no right to attend this session. I declare that the Prosecutor General’s Office and the court will not manage to involve in this process a lawyer who will not work in the interests of his client,” Serdiuk said.
Presiding Judge Vladyslav Deviatko assessed such actions as a sign of the refusal by Yanukovych’s defense lawyers to take part in judicial debates and not to allow other lawyers to attend the session.
“The court adjourns for 15 minutes and instructs the administrator of the court session, as well as the National Police, to ensure order in the courtroom and ensure the implementation of Viktor Yanukovych’s right by the presence of his defense lawyers in the courtroom,” he said.
