Russia extends Yanukovych asylum permit by another year
The Rostov Region Office of Immigration of the Russian Interior Ministry extended the temporary asylum of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych until October 26, 2018.
This was reported by the newspaper Kommersant. Vitaly Serdyuk, Yanukovych’s attorney, confirmed this information to the publication.
According to Kommersant, the document that was issued in October 2015 expired on October 26, 2017. And the newspaper’s source in law enforcement stated that Victor Yanukovych has no other documents that allow him to legally stay in Russia. There is no information in the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding issuance of Russian citizenship, a residence permit or a general civil passport.
“The reasons for granting asylum are political persecution and the endangerment of his life in the territory of Ukraine. They have not disappeared, so the validity of the document was extended,” the attorney explained.
According to him, Yanukovych is not considering the options of gaining citizenship or a residence permit in Russia.
“Only temporary asylum until he returns to Ukraine,” stressed Vitaly Serdyuk.
Yanukovych also did not change his place of official registration. His permanent registered residence is still a private house on Eremenko Street in Rostov-on-Don.
In early October, the Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine held a trial for Yanukovych in absentia in connection with the Maidan events.