By KYIV. Dec 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) has completed a special investigation into the case against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on the preparation of the "Kharkiv agreements," which contributed to the Russian aggression.
"The SBI in close cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) completed a special pre-trial investigation on suspicion of the former president and prime minister of Ukraine of committing high treason by prior conspiracy with a group of persons. They prepared and implemented the so-called "Kharkiv agreements," the SBI said in on the Telegram channel on Monday, December 19.
According to the statement, it was established that several former high-ranking officials helped the aggressor state to develop its military plans.
"They were in charge of increasing the number of personnel and military equipment of the invaders. At first, their "assistance" was used for the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol in 2014, and later – for the full-scale aggression of Russia against Ukraine in February 2022," the SBI said.
The ex-president ensured the legalization of the treacherous agreement in Ukraine, he ordered to draft an interstate agreement, approve it in the central executive agencies and at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Subsequently, the so-called "Kharkiv agreements" were ratified by the Verkhovna Rada, and they were implemented.
The documents on extending the deployment of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine for another 25 years, as well as building up the personnel of the armed forces and military equipment of the enemy in Crimea were signed contrary to the national interests of Ukraine and created threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. According to the basic agreements of 1997, Russia had to reduce its contingent on the peninsula. The "Kharkiv agreements" allowed the aggressors to have enough resources to occupy the peninsula in 2014 and for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The SBI recalled that the former defense, justice and foreign affairs ministers of Ukraine were also notified of suspicion and put on a wanted list for committing high treason under the described circumstances, and the investigating judge also chose a preventive measure for them in the form of detention.
"Currently, the extradition procedure is ongoing regarding the former ministers of justice and foreign affairs. One of them is reportedly hiding in Cyprus, and the whereabouts of the other is being checked," the SBI said.
Also, according to the statement, the former defense minister of Ukraine, who is suspected of committing high treason, is hiding in Belarus, which currently makes it impossible to extradite him. Moreover, the Defense Ministry of Belarus is taking measures to issue him a military pension.
