Aver Lex lawyer Vitaliy Serdiuk, who formerly represented disgraced ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, has rejoined Yanukovych's defense team, according to an affidavit filed in Kyiv's Solomiansky District Court.

Serdiuk on Monday read an official letter signed by Yanukovych reinstating him. The lawyer said Yanukovych insists on the participation of defense witnesses in the trial, asking the court to grant the request.

Serdiuk and his colleague Ihor Fedorenko earlier participated in pretrial hearings, along with state defense lawyer for Yanukovych Ihor Liashenko.

Yanukovych in July dismissed his defense lawyers, after which state defense lawyers were appointed.