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Lutsenko says verdict in his case politically motivated

He believes that the verdicts showed “the absolute farce of the political reprisal”

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

KIEV, February 27 (Itar-Tass) —— Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko said the verdict in his case was politically motivated.

He said he would prove his case legally and politically.

“This court that does not take into account the results of expert evaluations read out a verdict prepared by politicians from the presidential administration in order to take me out of political life as a political actor. But I will prove my case in the legal and political field,” Lutsenko said in the courtroom on Monday, February 27.

He believes that the verdicts showed “the absolute farce of the political reprisal”.

Kiev’s Pechersky District Court Lutsenko guilty of embezzlement in collusion with his former driver.

The judge read out the verdict regarding the first count of charges brought against Lutsenko and concerning the employment of his former driver Leonid Pristuplyuk at the Interior Ministry.

The judge continued reading the verdict after a break

The prosecution requests four years and six months of prison for Lutsenko and confiscation of his property, and three years of prison, sentence suspended, for Pristuplyuk.

The prosecutor believes that it has been proved that Lutsenko unlawfully provided a flat to Pristuplyuk, gave him other benefits and ordered the celebration of Police Day in 2008-2009 at the time of austerity policy proclaimed by the government.

Lutsenko was found guilty of acting in excess of his powers and of embezzling state property on a large scale.

He was detained on December 26, 2010 by the Security Service near his home. On December 27, 2010, the Pechersky Court ordered him into custody. The trial has been on since May 2011. The majority of 150 witnesses called to testify in court spoke in his support, and one-third did not show up.

His lawyers said they would appeal the verdict.

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