Page 27 - Report on the infringement of rights and guarantees of attorneys in Ukraine

Vitaliy Serdyuk
attorney of the former president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych
On 11 December 2017, during the questioning of Arseniy Yatsenyuk by the attorney, the
witness stated: “With your questions, you doubt and discredit the highest legislative body of
the state ... dear defence counsel, I kindly ask you to respect ... the law and the Constitution,
which you must respect and be responsible for.” Considering that these words were spoken
by one of the representatives of the highest political elite of Ukraine, and that some citizens
are already being prosecuted for criticism of the authorities, A. Yatsenyuk's statement can be
regarded as intimidation of the defendant's attorneys .
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At the meeting held on 24 January 2017, Vladyslav Deviatko, Presiding Judge, told the
attorney that his position in the process "was destroying his reputation as a well-known
attorney". Of course, this comment has nothing to do with the case, but can be regarded as
an attempt to force the attorney to change the chosen line of defence, especially taking into
considering the fact that earlier this court had already removed Maksym Herasko from the
case, attorney at the public defenders, in connection with his legal position, which was
uncomfortable for the court .
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On 15 February 2018, during the questioning of Oleksandr Turchynov, NSDCU Secretary, the
latter called the attorney "a clown who was interrupting him". To the attorney’s request to
reprimand the witness, Judge Vladyslav Deviatko stated that O. Turchynov was not aware
that V. Serdyuk was an attorney. A red flag is raised both by the behaviour of a high-ranking
witness, and the response of a judge who tried to smooth over an awkward situation .
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