Yanukovych in show of defiance
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Ousted president’s savage attack on pro-Western powers in Kiev
Ukraine’s ousted President Viktor Yanukovych insisted yesterday that he had not been overthrown as he defiantly resurfaced in Russia from a week in hiding and savaged the new pro-Western powers in Kiev.
The deposed pro-Kremlin leader spoke hours after Ukraine’s pro-EU interim authorities said they had regained control of two Crimean airports seized during an “armed invasion” by Russian forces.
Yanukovych — sitting confidently in a pressed suit with a dark blue tie in front of three Ukrainian flags — appeared before a swarm of reporters in the southwestern Russian city of Rostov-On-Don, less than two hours’ drive from the border with Ukraine.
The 63-year old said he had arrived in Russia “thanks to a patriotically minded young officer” after being “compelled to leave” Ukraine over security fears.
He vowed to continue to fight for Ukraine’s future while boycotting snap presidential polls the new Western-backed team in Kiev has set for May 25.
“I have not been overthrown by anyone, I was compelled to leave Ukraine due to an immediate threat to my life and the life of those close to me,” he said. “I intend to continue the fight for the future of Ukraine against those who try to saddle it with fear and terror.”
He said Ukraine’s new leaders were “young neo-fascists” and blamed the “irresponsible policies” of the West for his country’s crisis.
Yanukovych also apologized to the Ukrainian people and said he would return once his safety could be guaranteed.
“I am ashamed,” he said. “I did not have the strength to keep stability.”
He revealed that he had spoken by phone with — but had not met — Russian President Vladimir Putin, but voiced surprise that his ally had not yet spoken out on Ukraine since his flight.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s general prosecutor warned that Kiev would ask Moscow to extradite Yanukovych — accused of “mass murder” over carnage in Kiev that claimed nearly 100 lives last week.
Ukraine’s bloodiest crisis since its 1991 independence erupted in November when Yanukovych made the shock decision to ditch an EU trade pact in favor of closer ties with old master Russia.
The spiraling tensions in a nation torn between the West and Russia took a severe new turn yesterday when Ukraine’s new leaders accused Russian soldiers and local pro-Kremlin militia of staging raids on Crimea’s main airport and another base on the southwest of the peninsula where pro-Moscow sentiment runs high.
A spokesman for Russia’s Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet denied any involvement in the airport occupations.
But Ukraine’s parliament immediately appealed to the US and Britain to uphold a 1994 pact with Russia that guaranteed the country’s sovereignty.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said he viewed the incident as “an armed invasion and an occupation” by Russia.
National Security and Defense Council chief Andriy Parubiy told reporters later that security forces had successfully retaken control of the sites.
However, there were reports that dozens of men in battle fatigues and with Kalashnikovs continued to encircled the Simferopol airport. Soldiers with machine guns and dressed in green military fatigues were also blocking the road leading to Ukraine’s Belbek military air base near Sevastopol — home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
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