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Russia launches high treason case against Poroshenko's lawyer

2 min read
Russia launches high treason case against Poroshenko's lawyer
Lawyer Illia Novikov during the presentation of "The Free" exhibition at the National Museum of Ukrainian History in the Second World War, Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 10, 2020. (Photo credit: Yuliia Ovsyannikova/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

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.

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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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