Kyiv’s Obolonsky District Court has given one month to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s lawyers to prepare for debates in the hearing of a high treason case against him.
After the prosecutors presented their case and asked the court to sentence Yanukovych to 15 years in prison, Judge Vladyslav Deviatko asked Yanukovych’s private lawyer Oleksandr Baidyk and state-appointed lawyer Yuriy Riabovol how long it would take them to prepare for the debates.
Both lawyers said they needed at least three months.
Vitaliy Serdiuk, another lawyer hired by Yanukovych to defend him, pointed out once again that Riabovol had no right to represent the ex-president’s interests, as he himself declined his services.
Prosecutor Maksym Krym said the prosecution was of the opinion that one month was enough for the lawyers to prepare for debates.
The court resolved in the end that “one month is a sufficient and necessary but at the same time a reasonable period of time for the defense to prepare for judicial debates.”
After that, the court announced a recess in the hearings until September 13 and 14.
Considering that five lawyers hired by Yanukovych and one state-appointed lawyer are entitled to present their case in the debates, the court also determined September 17 and 18 as reserve dates for the defense.
