Lawyers for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Russia are working with witnesses whom they plan to invite to the Obolonsky District Court of Kyiv in the case on high treason of their client, lawyer Vitaliy Serdiuk has said.

"These are a number of ordinary employees and persons who served in law enforcement agencies. These are also top officials who were illegally removed from power in February 2014, which influenced the negative development of events, including Ukraine's loss of Crimea," he told the 112 Ukraine television channel on Wednesday.

Serdiuk noted that the court, which was to hold its next hearing on January 10, had really been provided with tickets indicating the departure of Yanukovych's lawyers to Turkey and Poland.

"We did provide tickets, as it was on January 7. We were on vacation. we were recalled to ensure the principle of the domination of the client's interests and started working with witnesses. We are now in the territory of the Russian Federation, where we work with our fellow citizens who are also persecuted in Ukraine for political reasons and cannot enter its territory, but they expressed a desire to appear in court as witnesses and tell about the circumstances that they know as witnesses of the events of February 2014," he said.

The lawyer also said that he had personally met with Yanukovych.

"His position is unchanged. He insists on the need to give him the opportunity officially, under oath, in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention, to address the court and our fellow citizens, and answer all questions. This concerns 'the case on the loss of Crimea' and the 'Maidan case,'" he said.

Serdiuk noted that Yanukovych's lawyers planned to take part in the next session of the Obolonsky District Court on January 17.