Yanukovych was fully aware that Russia has begun active preparations for the Crimea annexation in 2013 - Ministry of Justice

Russia began to take active steps to prepare for the occupation of the Crimea back in 2013, and ex-president Viktor Yanukovych knew about it. Minister of Justice Pavlo Petrenko announced it today at the briefing, - LIGA.net reported.

"We have clearly established and sent written evidence to the ECHR showing that the active phase of preparation for the seizure of Crimea were started back in 2014. However, we understand that such a plan has been developed before", - he said.

According to him, Ukraine was able to obtain evidence that in 2013 Russia had already begun active operations on the territory of the Crimea.

"This is confirmed by the fact that the Russian Federation illegally increased its military presence. Russian personnel and equipment were illegally transferred to the territory of Ukraine from the Crimea. It is confirmed by the fact that they did active subversive and intelligence work with the local authorities of the Crimea. It is documented,"- Petrenko said, stressing that the Ministry of Justice known names of the Russian authorities, who were coordinating this operation.

The Minister noted that the claim materials include documentary evidence of capture and torture the local inhabitants of the Crimea by the Russian security forces in 2014. "This once again confirms that the so-called Russian version of how they "emotionally reacted to the revolution" and "helped their brothers" in the Crimea by holding a "referendum" is a complete lie", - Petrenko said.

According to him, Yanukovych, his entourage, as well as other special services could not have been unaware of the activities for the preparation of the peninsula’s occupation.

"In fact, they helped to ensure that there was a preparation for the seizure in 2013. All the evidence we have submitted to the ECHR", - the Minister said.