Testifying in Kyiv’s Obolonsky District Court on Wednesday as a prosecution’s witness in the Yanukovych treason case, Parubiy said that Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky called him in late February – early March 2014. During the phone conversation, Zhirinovsky threatened Parubiy to initiate proceedings against him in Russia if Ukraine defends itself.
Parubiy also added that during the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on February 28, 2014, it was noted that Russia could attack Ukraine from all directions, most likely from the section of the border north of Kyiv.
Read alsoMajor share of assets seized from Yanukovych allies allocated to cover needs of Defense Ministry - LutsenkoAccording to Parubiy, Yanukovych's letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the request to deploy troops in Ukraine legitimated the annexation of Crimea by Russia and an attempt to seize at least seven other regions. The letter laid grounds for sabotage by security services' offices in these regions of orders issued by the central government formed after Yanukovych's escape. "This letter was demoralizing to local authorities and laid grounds to sabotaging Kyiv's orders," Parubiy said.
Read alsoYanukovych intends to return to Ukraine - lawyerAs UNIAN reported earlier, Yanukovych is charged with treason, complicity with Russian authorities, deliberate actions committed to alter the state border of Ukraine in violation of the Ukrainian Constitution. He is also accused of waging an aggressive war.
The judicial panel of Kyiv's Obolon district court on June 29 granted the prosecution's request to have Yanukovych tried in absentia.
