Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Ukraine indicts pro-Russian former prime minister

by Dmytro Basmat January 19, 2024 7:31 AM 2 min read
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov holds a press conference in Moscow, Russia on April 26, 2018. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukraine's former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has been indicted on charges of justifying Russia's invasion and advocating for the overthrow of the Ukrainian constitution, the Prosecutor General's Office announced on Jan. 18. The Prosecutor General's Office blurred the image of the accused, with Ukrainian media confirming it was Azarov who was indicted.

"Prosecutors have submitted to court an indictment in the criminal proceedings against the former prime minister of Ukraine," the Prosecutor General's Office statement read.

Azarov served as prime minister from 2010 until 2014 during the tenure of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and now resides in Russia. A pro-Russian politician, Azarov resigned in 2014 amid Ukraine's EuroMaidan revolution.

Azarov regularly makes anti-Ukrainian statements and promotes pro-Kremlin narratives on Russian state propaganda channels.

"The ex-official calls the events in Bucha 'fake', calls for 'denazification' and a violent change of the Ukrainian government, and says that Putin's 'special operation' saved Donetsk from capture," the Prosecutor General Office's statement alleges.

Charges were first brought against Azarov in Oct. 2023 by Ukraine's Security Service, alongside one of the former prime minister's political assistant who, up until October, worked as a civil servant at one of the Kyiv city district's administrations.

Azarov will be tried in absentia, and no details were provided regarding when the trial would commence.

Former PM and current Kyiv official charged with spreading Russian propaganda
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) brought new charges against former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov for spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda and justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the SBU announced on Oct. 12. A Kyiv city official, who worked as his assistant, was also charged.
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

5:29 PM

Zelensky marks Holodomor Remembrance Day.

"They wanted to destroy us. To kill us. To subjugate us. They failed. They wanted to hide the truth and silence the terrible crimes forever. They failed," Zelensky wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
5:50 AM

Crimean Tatar editor goes missing in occupied Crimea.

Ediye Muslimova, the editor-in-chief of a Crimean Tatar children's magazine, disappeared in Russian-occupied Crimea on Nov. 21. Local sources say she was forced into a vehicle by three men and is being detained by the Russian FSB.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.