"Today the procedure of a court process in absentia has begun on five criminal procedures against six individuals: former Ukrainian President [Viktor] Yanukovych, former National Bank head [Serhiy] Arbuzov, former Revenues and Duties Minister [Oleksandr] Klimenko, former Health Minister [Raisa] Bogatyrova and her deputy [Oleksandr] Staschenko, and former Deputy Revenues and Duties Minister [Andriy] Ignatov," Shokin said.
He said investigators had enough legal proof against Ignatov, Bogatyrova and Yanukovych "to begin procedures in absentia."
Yanukovych served as Ukraine's president from 2010 until he was ousted by a coup in 2014, almost a year before his legal term expired.
Interpol placed Yanukovych on its wanted list after Ukrainian authorities accused him of embezzling millions of dollars in public funds in early 2015, removing him from the list earlier this month.
Yanukovych’s lawyers said they considered the court’s decision to begin proceedings unlawful. The Aver Lex lawyer association, which represents the former Ukrainian leader, said in a statement that proceedings in absentia can only be opened against persons wanted internationally.
