Viktor Yanukvoych, the former Ukrainian President who fled the country at the height of the Maidan protests in February, 2014, has finally appeared in a Ukrainian court today, albeit via video link from Russia's Rostov-on-Don.
Yanukovych was to be questioned about his role in the shooting of protesters in Kiev on February 20, 2014.
He told the court today:
"This is on my own initiative - to appear as a witness in this case. This my own decision. Therefore I am interested in seeing that the truth in this case is established."
However the court has had to postpone the Yanukovych's questioning until November 28, due to the fact that the five former Berkut riot police officers, charged with killing at least 48 protesters, were not present in court today.
This is because activists from the nationalist Pravyi Sektor party blocked the authorities from moving the accused men from the Lukyanivske pre-trial detention facility to the court.
The Ukrainian interior minister, Arsen Avakov, wrote on his Facebook page this afternoon that his ministry would not use force to disperse the activists at the jail.
"Yanukovych has already brought about enough bloodshed and misery in Ukraine. The Interior Ministry will not participate in another provocation by Moscow's puppet and enter into violent conflict with the protesters. Moreover, we understand the viewpoint and motives of these people and we share many of them.
The National Police and the National Guard will ensure the delivery of the accused to the court, as soon as it is technically possible, and in doing this, we will not be forced into participating in a provocation played out by a fugitive ex-president under the diktat of the aggressor country."
Yanukovych implored the court to conduct his questioning today, but confirmed that he would indeed be available to give evidence by video link on Monday, at 13:00 Kiev time.
Notably, he was not himself charged with any involvement in the killings today, despite this morning's statement from Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy that the former president would be read his charges during today's hearing.
Yanukovych, who has been almost entirely silent since his flight to Russia, bar a handful of interviews, has also announced that he will give a press conference in Rostov-on-Don this evening.
Translation: Yanukovych in Rostov: "This evening I will tell you everything and answer your questions."