Yanukovych to be tried in absentia

A court in Kiev has decided to hold trial for the betrayal of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Judgment will be kept without his presence.

The chairman of the court, Vladyslav Devyatko, has made the decision known after Yanukovych, who is in Russia, has not appeared in the courtroom for several times.

Yanukovych's lawyer, Vitaly Serdyuk, has said his client cannot be part of the session due to life threats. The next session will be held on July 6th.

Prosecutors seek life imprisonment for Yanukovychin, who is accused of treason by violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yanukovych had abandoned his office in February 2014, and fled to Russia in the wave of protests that prompted his decision to avoid co-operation with the European Union and improve trade relations with Moscow.

After his departure, Russia annexed the Crime Peninsula and promoted separatism to the east of Ukraine.

During the fighting between Ukrainian government forces and prorus separatists, more than 10,000 people have been killed.