Ousted Ukrainian president says he did not flee anywhere
Ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he had no intention of asking for Russian military intervention in Ukraine, blamed the chaos there on Western manipulation and said he would return to Ukraine "as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family". Speaking in Russian at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on–Don, he he ruled out taking part in elections planned for 25 May, describing them as "illegal". He insisted he did not "flee anywhere", explaining that his car was shot at as he left Kiev for the north-east city of Kharkiv and he was forced to move around Ukraine amid fears for the safety of himself and his family. “Here’s how I came to Russia,” he said. “I came here thanks to patriotically minded officers. That’s how I’m going to put it. They did their duty and they helped me stay alive.” He said he had not met Putin since his arrival in Russia. “When I ended up in Russia, I had a phone call with him,” Yanukovych said. “We agreed once the president of Russia has an opportunity, we will meet, but I don’t know when this will happen.” Yanukovych said he was in Rostov-on-Don, not far from the Ukrainian border, because he had a friend who lives near there. Yanukovych called on the new Ukraine authorities to step down saying that he was the legitimate president. He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having "enough strength to keep stability" and for allowing "lawlessness in this country". “I want to apologise to everyone who suffered in the clashes, I would bow before them and meet all families. I shall do everything to be next to my people again,” said the fugitive president who blamed the clashes on the West. Yanukovych said he never ordered police to shoot at demonstrators in Kiev. Mr Yanukovych said tensions in Crimea were "understandable" and the natural reaction to the bandit coup that occurred in Kiev but insisted military action was not the answer. He added that he was surprised by the restraint shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin so far. He also stressed that "military action in this situation is unacceptable" and said he wanted Crimea to remain part of Ukraine.
