Ukrainian court sanctions arrest of Medvedchuk - SBI

KYIV. March 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The Lychakivsky District Court of Ukraine's Lviv has ordered custody as a measure of restraint for member of the Ukrainian parliament (the Opposition Platform - For Life faction) Viktor Medvedchuk, who earlier escaped house arrest, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) said.

"On March 18, an investigating judge granted the motion of an SBI investigator to select a measure of restraint as stipulated by Part 6 of Article 193 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, that is, in the defendant's absence," SBI said on Telegram.

SBI and the Prosecutor General's Office earlier took measures to place Medvedchuk on the international wanted list. Efforts are being made to determine his whereabouts.

The Ukrainian authorities are suspecting Medvedchuk of treason and abetting a terrorist organization's activities.