Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was sentenced in absentia Thursday to 13 years in jail on treason charges.
A judge ruled that the pro-Moscow Yanukovich’s conduct had paved the way for Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.
“With his deliberate illegal actions, Yanukovich committed a crime against the foundations of the national sovereignty of Ukraine, namely state treason,” judge Vladyslav Deviatko said, adding that the ex-president “committed a crime against peace, namely aiding in the conduct of an aggressive war.”
Yanukovich fled Ukraine for Russia in 2014 after street protests against his rule. His lawyers said they would appeal the decision.