**Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s Conviction: A Closer Look**
On April 28, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced that former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for inciting desertion and organizing illegal border crossings. This is not Yanukovych’s first conviction by a Ukrainian court; he was previously sentenced to 13 years in prison for high treason and complicity in waging war of aggression against Ukraine in 2019.
**The Involvement of Putin’s Bodyguard**
According to prosecutor Denis Ivanov, the personal bodyguard of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Morozov, and former commander of the Southern Military District Aleksander Galkin were involved in Yanukovych’s illegal border crossing in 2014. The prosecutor stated that all these events took place with the support of the special services of the Russian Federation and the Russian Armed Forces.
**The Evidence Against Yanukovych**
The decisive direct evidence in this case was the testimony of some employees of the State Protection Department of Ukraine who refused Yanukovych’s offer to leave Ukraine’s territory with him and betray their military oath. Another piece of evidence was information from a telecommunications operator on the recording of numbers used by Yanukovych and his security details while moving around the territory of Ukraine and Russia within the area of coverage of the operators’ base stations.
**The Significance of the Conviction**
Yanukovych’s presidency was widely seen as corrupt and authoritarian, drawing Ukraine closer to Russia. His refusal to sign an association agreement with the European Union in November 2013 triggered mass protests known as the EuroMaidan Revolution. After the deaths of nearly 100 protesters at the hands of security forces in February 2014, Yanukovych fled Ukraine and sought refuge in Russia.
**Commentary**
The conviction of Viktor Yanukovych is a significant blow to the former Ukrainian president’s attempts to escape accountability for his actions during his time in office. The involvement of Putin’s bodyguard and former Russian army commander in Yanukovych’s illegal border crossing highlights the close ties between the two leaders.
**Analysis**
This case sheds light on the complex web of relationships between Ukraine, Russia, and their respective leaders. The fact that Yanukovych was able to flee Ukraine with the help of Putin’s bodyguard and former Russian army commander suggests a high level of coordination and cooperation between the two countries. This conviction is a testament to Ukrainian prosecutors’ efforts to hold those responsible for destabilizing the country accountable.
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