Former president could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of charges he dismisses as fabricated. The Pechersk District Court of Kiev appointed a court hearing for January 17, 11:00 a.m., where Poroshenko faces a ruling on whether he will be remanded in custody pending investigation and trial in the ‘treason’ case.
Poroshenko arrived at Zhuliany Airport in the Ukrainian capital on Monday having travelled from Warsaw and was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters.
At a separate briefing, Ukrainian investigators said they had tried to serve a subpoena to the 56-year-old, who refused to take the documents.
The State Bureau of Investigation expressed the hope that upon arrival the former president would come to court on his own, which he did.
A prosecutor has alleged that Poroshenko was involved in the sale of large amounts of coal that helped finance Russian-backed separatists waging conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014-15.
Poroshenko’s assets have been frozen as part of a probe into the allegations of high treason. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The State Bureau of Investigation believes that Poroshenko evades investigative actions, therefore they issued a warrant for his forced delivery to court.
Poroshenko insists that he is innocent.