Russia officially refused to extradite Yanukovych to Ukraine, - Horbatiuk

Russia has officially refused to extradite fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Head of the Special Investigations Department of the Prosecutor General's Office Serhii Horbatiuk said at a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski Novyny.

He noted that the request for extradition of Yanukovych was sent to Russia more than a year ago.

"About a month ago, we received a refusal of extradition," Horbatiuk said.

However, according to him, the Prosecutor General's Office has sent an international legal order to Russia, asking for the interrogation of Yanukovych in its territory and only in the presence of a Ukrainian investigator.

The Ukrainian criminal cases against Yanukovych contain affidavits that he made to his lawyers in Moscow. Horbatiuk noted that the ex-president is suspected under seven criminal proceedings. In addition, he is on the Interpol wanted list as well as on the international wanted list.

The head of the Special Investigations Department predicts that a number of cases against Yanukovych will be considered in absentia.