The heads of the EU countries demanded that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy release the head of the opposition party Viktor Medvedchuk from house arrest, Ukrainian media report. This requirement was included in the list that was transferred to Kiev for implementation in order to defuse tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Medvedchuk is awaiting trial in the high treason case, he denies his guilt. Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Viktor Medvedchuk should be released from house arrest. Such a demand was put forward to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by the leaders of the EU countries, reports Strana.ua, citing its sources.

“These were negotiations on the de-escalation of tensions around Ukraine and Russia, as well as an exchange of views on Ukrainian domestic politics and the human rights situation in the country. European leaders put forward a list of proposals to Zelensky to defuse the situation, "the publication says.

In addition, the heads of European states called on Kiev to lift the NSDC sanctions on opposition media outlets, which include three TV channels that were closed in February this year, and Strana.ua itself.

The European authorities believe that these measures will help ease tensions both within Ukraine and in relations with Moscow. These proposals were not publicly announced, they were transferred to Zelensky confidentially, the source said.

Medvedchuk, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in 2014 organized coal supplies from Donbass, from the territory of the self-proclaimed people's republics, in agreement with the country's top leadership. The politician himself denies his guilt, calling the persecution political. The court decided to leave Medvedchuk under house arrest until December 7, later this period was extended. The prosecutor's office announced that it demanded the arrest of the oppositionist, an appeal was filed.

Also Medvedchuk and his associate Taras Kozak are suspected of treason and plundering of national resources in Crimea.

In mid-October, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, commented on the house arrest of Viktor Medvedchuk.

“We immediately said that the events with Medvedchuk are the settling of political scores, therefore, of course, we strongly condemn this practice,” Peskov emphasized.

He also added that the Kremlin is unlikely to be able to do anything to help Medvedchuk in the current situation in connection with his Ukrainian citizenship. At the same time, the Russian authorities condemn actions against the politician.

Vladimir Putin, in turn, said that the MP from the Ukrainian faction "Opposition Platform - For Life" Viktor Medvedchuk is trying to be held accountable for his open political position aimed at stabilizing the country.

“For what? He stole some secrets, secretly passed them on? No. For what? For his open political position aimed at stabilizing the internal political situation in the country and building relations with neighbors, which are important for Ukraine itself, "the Russian president said.

Putin's godfather

In Ukraine, Medvedchuk is regularly accused of being "pro-Russian", recalling that he is the godfather of the Russian president.

In the summer of 2019, the chairman of the political council of the OPSL told on the air of "Russia 1" how he "had a drink" with Putin.

“This is about my wife, Oksana Mikhailovna, who asked through me to make such a request [to become godfather] to Vladimir Vladimirovich. And I am very pleased, we are proud that Vladimir Vladimirovich did not refuse this, ”said the Ukrainian politician.

Medvedchuk added that he met Putin at the beginning of the 2000s, when he held the post of vice-speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. Vladimir Putin then became the president of Russia for the first time. The christening took place in 2004.

The active return of the former vice-speaker of Rada Medvedchuk to Ukrainian politics began in 2017. A flurry of criticism from Ukrainian nationalists and calls to put Medvedchuk in prison began after the merger of the Ukrainian Choice with Vadim Rabinovich's For Life party.

Medvedchuk does not hide his friendship with Vladimir Putin - as well as the fact that for several years he has been coordinating a "hidden dialogue" between the highest Russian and Ukrainian authorities, which means that he is one of the "untouchable" figures in Ukrainian politics. / i

At the end of June 2019, Medvedchuk, bypassing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, agreed with Donbass to extradite four Ukrainian prisoners.

bbabo.Net