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Moscow has no legal claims against ex-Ukrainian president living in Russia, says Kremlin

The spokesman thinks the 90-day visa-free stay in Russia "is not applicable" to Yanukovich

MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Russia has no claims against former Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovich, who has been living in Russia for the past few years, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday, pledging to clarify his legal status in Russia.

"No, the Russian government has no claims against him," Peskov said. The spokesman responded to journalists asking on what grounds was the former Ukrainian president staying in Russia for so long, given that the country’s migration legislation stipulates only a 90-day stay without a visa. "I don’t think this is applicable to him," he replied.

"The question is interesting, nonetheless, and I will follow up on it," he said, pledging to clarify the matter.

Yanukovich was charged on three counts in a series of criminal cases launched against him following the Western-backed February 2014 coup in Ukraine, specifically, high treason, complicity in conducting an aggressive war and complicity in the encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability resulting in the loss of life or other grave consequences.

On January 24, Kiev’s Obolon District Court found former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich not guilty on the count of violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Earlier, the Obolon District Court had sentenced Viktor Yanukovich to 13 years behind bars in absentia in the high treason case.

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Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych Dmitry Peskov

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