Brovar City District Court Hearing
For the second time in recent weeks, a court hearing in the case against former President Viktor Yanukovych and security officials, concerning the organization of the violent dispersal and shootings of protesters on February 18-20, 2014, has been postponed. The Brovar City District Court was unable to proceed with reading the indictment on March 3, 2026, due to technical failures, including problems with the video conference system and recording equipment. The court adjourned until March 10.
Prosecutors and some of the victims were present in the courtroom on March 3. Seven defense lawyers joined via video link. Yanukovych's lawyer, Yevhen Solodko, requested a pause, which the court denied. Following this, Solodko disconnected from the video conference. Prosecutor Denis Ivanov noted that the defense lawyer's actions appeared to be an attempt to disrupt the proceedings and filed a motion to continue the hearing without Solodko's participation. The court then announced a recess until March 10 at 9:50 a.m.
Case Status and Broader Implications
The previous hearing, scheduled for February 19, 2026, was also postponed after Yanukovych's lawyers failed to appear. The pre-trial hearings in this case have now been ongoing for a year and a half. Throughout 2025, the court scheduled 17 sessions, of which only 10 took place. Past reasons for postponements have included:
- the non-appearance of defense lawyers,
- a refusal to obtain access to state secrets,
- and the expiration of the assignment term for Judge Natalia Sirenko.
This is the fourth criminal case against Viktor Yanukovych. Previously, on January 20, 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison for the illegal seizure of Sukholuchchia lands. In April 2025, he was also sentenced to 15 years for inciting desertion and organizing illegal border crossings. In 2019, he received a 13-year sentence for state treason.
The cases against Viktor Yanukovych continue to attract significant public attention, given his central role in the events that led to the Revolution of Dignity. The 2014 shootings in Kyiv's Maidan square were a pivotal moment in modern Ukrainian history.
The protracted nature of the proceedings, repeated delays, and recurring technical issues highlight the complexity of this trial and the legal intricacies that could affect its outcome. Future hearings in this case may have significant implications both for justice in Ukraine and for the public memory of the tragic events of 2014.