In Kiev, the prosecution requested an arrest for ex-president Poroshenko accused of treason with the possibility of release on bail of 1 billion hryvnias

The prosecution asks the Pechersky District Court of Kiev to arrest ex-president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko for two months with the right to release on bail in the amount of 1 billion hryvnia (about $ 35.5 million), transmits TASS.

In court, Poroshenko said that they tried to force him to appoint a free state lawyer, and he refused it. “I would like to draw your (court’s) attention that, without any legal grounds for this, there was an attempt to illegally appoint a free lawyer for me, despite the fact that my lawyers arrived at the hearing,” leads RIA Novosti, Poroshenko’s words.

Poroshenko said that this was a violation of his right to defense and promised to apply to law enforcement agencies demanding an investigation. He also urged the judge to issue a separate decision to order law enforcement officers to investigate who and why decided to appoint a public lawyer for him.

On January 17, Poroshenko flew from Poland to the Zhuliany airport in Kiev. The security forces took away his passport for a while while passing control, but later the document was returned. The investigator also handed him a subpoena with a subpoena. At this time, about 1000-1500 supporters of the politician gathered at the airport.

A criminal case has been opened against Poroshenko under the articles “high treason” and “assistance to the activities of terrorist organizations.” In particular, the case concerns the purchase of coal in the Donbass. According to the investigation, the ex-president created a criminal group and disrupted the coal supplies from South Africa contracted in the fall of 2014.

On December 17, employees of the State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine near the building of the Verkhovna Rada tried to hand over the summons to MP Petro Poroshenko and call him for questioning, but the ex-president avoided receiving the document and immediately went abroad. The press service of European Solidarity claims that the investigation is an attempt by the incumbent President Volodymyr Zelensky to divert the attention of voters from the crises provoked by his policies.

Abroad, Poroshenko recorded a video message in which he stated that he would return to Ukraine in January, but “on his own schedule.” In the video, the ex-president told, which is located in Warsaw, where meetings with European politicians are scheduled. The ex-president called the case initiated against him madness. “This is madness. I am the fifth president of the state. Before proclaiming anything, you must have convincing evidence both for society and for our international partners. I’ll come and we’ll talk,” Poroshenko said.