Yanukovych says still president, expects return to Kiev

Ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday said that he was still the country's legitimate president and commander-in-chief, predicting he would be able to return to Kiev soon. Duration: 01:16

Published

12 months ago

Categories

World

Topics

Politics & Government, Europe

People

Vladimir Putin, Viktor Yanukovych

Places

Ukraine, Russia, Europe, Kiev

Transcript

SHOTLIST: ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA, MARCH 11, 2014 SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Viktor Yanukovych delivers his speech and leaves SOUNDBITE 1 - Viktor Yanukovych (man), ousted president of Ukraine (Russian, 23 sec): "I want to remind you that I remain not just the sole legitimate president of Ukraine but also commander-in-chief. I never resigned. I am alive. I wasn't dismissed under the Constitution" SOUNDBITE 2 - Viktor Yanukovych (man), ousted president of Ukraine (Russian, 15 sec): "Under cover of allegedly legitimate government there is a gang of ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists which are acting in the country and aiming to get hold of the presidency" SOUNDBITE 3 - Viktor Yanukovych (man), ousted president of Ukraine (Russian, 20 sec): "At the time of the coup I never left Ukraine. There were numerous attempts of terrorist acts against me. They failed. As soon as the circumstances allow -- and I am sure there is not long to wait -- I will without doubt return to Kiev" SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE, MARCH 11, 2014 SOURCE: AFPTV - Various pro-Russian billboards around Simferopol: one with flowers, saying 'Spring - Crimea-Russia', the other saying 'Together with Russia', both with '16 March - Referendum' /// ---------------------------------------- AFP TEXT: Yanukovych says still president, expects return to Kiev / Rostov-on-Don (Russia) - 11 March 2014 10:56 - AFP (Alexander Nemenov) - Ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday said that he was still the country's legitimate president and commander-in-chief, predicting he would be able to return to Kiev soon. "I remain not just the sole legitimate president of Ukraine but also commander-in-chief," he said in his first public appearance in over a week, in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. "As soon as the circumstances allow -- and I am sure there is not long to wait -- I will without doubt return to Kiev," he added, speaking Russian. In contrast to his lengthy press conference on February 28 when he re-emerged in Russia, Yanukovych gave only a seven minute statement in a conference hall in Rostov-on-Don, standing in front of several Ukrainian flags. He then left the stage alone without taking questions. He reaffirmed his belief that power in Kiev had been taken by a "band of ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists" who he said wanted to start a "civil war". He said that presidential elections planned in May would be "absolutely illegitimate and illegal" and he would not recognise the results. It is not clear what influence, if any, Yanukovych has on Russian policy on Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said last week he was in theory still Ukrainian president but recognised he had no political future. - 'I am alive' - Yanukovych told the new pro-West authorities in Ukraine who took over after he fled to Russia last month that "sooner or later, most likely sooner" they would be held responsible for their actions. "You will be made responsible for the suffering of the people. Ukraine is now going through a difficult time," he said. He blamed them for the fact that Ukraine appears about to lose control of Crimea, which is set to be claimed by Russia after a referendum on March 16. "Your actions have led to the fact that Crimea is separating and the people of the south and east are demanding respect, even in the face of machine guns," he said. "We will get through this trouble, the people who have been deceived by you will see this and the country will rise up and unify," said Yanukovych. However contrary to expectations, Yanukovych made no other reference to the crisis over Crimea in his statement. There had been repeated rumours in the Russian press over the last week that Yanukovych had suffered a heart attack but he appeared to be in reasonable health, if looking strained and tired. "I want to say that I am alive," said Yanukovych in a comment that provoked immediate ridicule on social networks. "But I cannot say that I feel good as I cannot look at what is going on now in Ukraine without deep and terrible alarm." He accused the West of ignoring the "fascist" tendencies of the new authorities in Ukraine. "Have you gone blind? Have you lost your memory? Have you forgotten what fascism is?" He said that the presidential elections would be illegitimate as they would proceed under the "total control of extremist forces". sjw/hg/yad