Lutsenko’s appeal examined in his absence

The Kyiv Court of Appeal on Friday morning began its examination of the appeal brought by former Minister of the Interior, Yury Lutsenko against the extension of his remand in custody until 26 April without him being present in the courtroom.

The examination began with Yury Lutsenko’s lawyer asking that Lutsenko be brought to the court since the appeal had been written by both he and his client.

The court rejected this request claiming that it had not received an application authorized by the management of the SIZO [remand unit] to have Lutsenko brought to the courtroom.

Those present in the courtroom, as well as the parties, were Lutsenko’s wife and elder son, and two National Deputies Taras Stetskiv and Volodymyr Filenko.