Court stops questioning of Ukrainian President Poroshenko in Yanukovych case after improper question regarding Poroshenko's vacation in the Maldives
The court in Kyiv has prematurely stopped the examination of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the trial of former President Viktor Yanukovych on charges of high treason. The questioning, which was being conducted through video communication, was cut short because the defense was addressing the president with improper questions, the TV channel 112 Ukraine reports.
“The defense (of Yanukovych) has intentionally asked questions that are unrelated to these criminal proceedings, and is not willing to question you. I am obliged to cease your examination and thank you for treating the witness summons that the court sent you last week responsibly,” the judge addressed the president.
He also appealed to defense counsel. "The Court must use its right to stop the examination; it will remain on your legal conscience," the judge said.
The defense’s question, after which the examination was concluded, concerned Poroshenko’s recent vacation in the Maldives.
The Ukrainian President’s Press Service reported on January 16 that Poroshenko had taken a private trip to the Maldives. In the statement, the Press Service noted that Poroshenko had organized the trip at his own expense. Earlier in January, Poroshenko celebrated the New Year "in the Maldives, with family and guests," according to a Facebook post by lawyer Andriy Smirnov, member of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council.