Former Ukrainian President, Sons Protest EU Sanctions

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych says the freeze on his assets in Europe violates "ownership rights" guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his two sons have filed a petition with the European Court of Human Rights to have the EU sanctions against them cancelled.

Blacklisted Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko has joined the Yanukovychs in protesting the sanctions.

They demand the European Union Council cancel resolutions it made on March 5 and April 15 that deny the four entry into the EU and freeze their assets.

In their complaint, they said the EU Council did not have "sufficient evidence" to sanction them and added the decision was politically motivated and punishes them for steering Ukraine away from the EU and toward Russia.

Yanukovych -- who fled his post as president in February -- says the freeze on his assets in Europe violates "ownership rights" guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and "Kyiv Post"