Tsymbaliuk expressed his conviction that through Yanukovych’s letter to Putin Russia attempted to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine.
At a Feb 7 hearing of the high treason case against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, the court questioned Andriy Tsymbaliuk, an assistant to former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Security Council, Yuriy Sergeyev. Tsymbaliuk is now an adviser to the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.
Tsymbaliuk testified that Russia had annexed Crimea with the involvement of its military units without insignia, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
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The witness regards Crimea annexation as an act of aggression against Ukraine on the part of Russia.
In addition, Tsymbaliuk told that at a meeting of the UN Security Council on February 28, Ukraine informed the international community about the beginning of Crimea seizure.
He also said that at a meeting of the Security Council on March 3, 2014, which was convened at Russia’s initiative, the then Permanent Representative of Russia to the Security Council, Vitaly Churkin, demonstrated Yanukovych's appeal to Putin, where he called on his Russian counterpart to introduce Russian troops into Ukraine.
Tsymbaliuk expressed conviction that Russia attempted through this letter to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine.
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Tsymbaliuk testified that after Yanukovych's escape from Kyiv, he was guided by the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of February 22, 2014, according to which Yanukovych was recognized as a the one who withdrew himself from fulfilling the duties of President of Ukraine.