Prosecutors Close Investigation Into Yanukovych and 16 Officials Over Maidan Crackdown

Pre-Trial Probe Into Yanukovych Concludes

According to Главком: Investigators from the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Bureau of Investigation have wrapped up a special pre-trial inquiry targeting Viktor Yanukovych and 16 other former high-ranking officials. The case centers on a criminal organization allegedly established by Yanukovych after February 25, 2010, with particular focus on the Euromaidan protests-especially the deadliest clashes that took place on Kyiv's Maidan Square between February 18 and 20, 2014.

According to the investigation, between November 21, 2013, and February 20, 2014, actions by members of this group led to the deaths of 70 civilians and left more than 1,200 protesters with injuries. Prosecutors allege that Yanukovych, who served as Ukraine's president from 2010 to 2014, abused his authority to build a criminal network composed of loyalists with backgrounds in state governance and law enforcement.

"The investigation determined that after February 25, 2010, Viktor Yanukovych, violating his presidential oath, began using his powers not for the benefit of the state and citizens, but to establish personal control over the government apparatus."

Ruslan Kravchenko, representative of the Prosecutor General's Office

The list of suspects includes:

• Former President Viktor Yanukovych
• Former Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko
• Former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov
• Former Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka
• Former Defense Minister Pavlo Lebediev
• Other senior officials who held key state positions during the period under scrutiny

Investigators note that these individuals "created the appearance of lawful activity but in fact acted in the interests of the fugitive president or their own shared interests." Events on the Maidan included "unlawful obstruction of peaceful assemblies, violent dispersal of protesters, and the most tragic episodes of February 18–20, 2014."

Because the suspects are hiding in Russia or in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the pre-trial investigation was conducted in absentia. Custody has been chosen as the preventive measure for all accused.

Yanukovych has already been convicted in several cases. On January 20, 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison for illegally seizing the Sukholuchchia nature reserve. In April 2025, he received another 15-year sentence for inciting desertion and organizing illegal border crossings. In 2019, a court found him guilty of high treason and sentenced him to 13 years in prison.

Why This Investigation Matters

The closure of this pre-trial phase marks a significant step in Ukraine's pursuit of justice for crimes committed during the Euromaidan Revolution. It underscores the gravity of the violence directed at peaceful protesters and seeks to hold accountable those directly responsible. Since many of the accused remain beyond Ukraine's borders, further progress may depend on international cooperation for their arrest and extradition.

The ongoing scrutiny of former Ukrainian officials continues, as the High Anti-Corruption Court has recently issued an arrest warrant for ex-lawmaker Ivanushchenko. This development highlights the broader implications of corruption and abuse of power during the Yanukovych era, drawing attention to the systemic issues within the Ukrainian political landscape. For more on this unfolding situation, see our coverage of the arrest warrant issued for Ivanushchenko.