Russia launches high treason case against Poroshenko's lawyer

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) launched a high treason case against Illia Novikov, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's lawyer, the Russian state news agency TASS reported on Oct. 9.

The FSB claims that the Moscow-born Russian and Ukrainian lawyer "joined the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces of Ukraine and has been participating in their activities to date."

According to the Russian security service, the lawyer "underwent military training in Ukraine and is participating in combat tasks and propaganda work."

Novikov, an outspoken Kremlin critic, has been involved in a number of high-profile cases in Russia. He has served as a defense lawyer of Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko and Russian human rights activist Oyub Titiev.

In 2019, he became a defense counsel of Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's fifth president and the current leader of the European Solidarity Party.

Novikov, who has denounced Russian aggression in Ukraine, has been residing in Kyiv since 2021.

The Russian Interior Ministry put the lawyer on the country's wanted list in November 2022, and he was stripped of his license to practice law in Russia this June.

In March 2023, Novikov said he joined the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer.

‘Every family affected’: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral

Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast - Serhii Pletinka rushed to the scene just after a Russian Iskander-M missile struck a packed cafe in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast. A soldier on vacation who lives just across the street from the cafe was the first to witness the fire, screams, and

The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet