The court allowed in absentia to conduct a pre-trial investigation in the "Crimean case" of two leaders of the "Ukrainian Choice"
The court gave permission for a special pre-trial investigation into the case of treason and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine by two leaders of the public movement "Ukrainian Choice" in Crimea.
It was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
"Pechersk District Court of Kyiv granted the request of the Autonomous Prosecutor's Office for permission to conduct a special pre-trial investigation (in absentia) against two leaders of initiative groups of the public movement" Ukrainian Choice "in Crimea, suspected of organizing and conducting an illegal" referendum "in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol", - was informed in the message.
The head of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Ihor Ponochovny noted that the adoption of the law on correspondence pre-trial investigation will fully ensure the implementation of the principle of inevitability of punishment for crimes committed by the occupying state and occupation administration in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
"Since most of the suspects are hiding from the investigation and the court in the territories not under Ukraine's control or in the Russian Federation, the use of mechanisms in absentia will bring to justice those guilty of committing a number of crimes in Crimea", - he said.
What is known
- On March 26, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol suspected suspicion of organizing and holding an illegal "referendum" on the semi-island to three leaders of the initiative groups of the Ukrainian Choice movement. The suspects were awarded medals "For the Return of Crimea" by the occupying authorities of the peninsula.
- On March 25, the SBU conducted searches at the Ukrainian Choice office. Representatives of the organization are suspected of facilitating the occupation of Crimea and holding an illegal referendum and elections in 2014.
- Medvedchuk considers the SSU searches "a showdown with political opponents".
- On February 19, the National Security and Defense Council approved sanctions for three years against 19 legal entities and 8 individuals. The list also includes Viktor Medvedchuk, chairman of the OPL political council, and his wife, Oksana Marchenko. Sanctions were imposed for terrorist financing.
