Ousted President Victor Yanukovych gave a press conference in Rostov-on-Don today to explain why he fled Ukraine under cover of darkness and to stress he is still the legitimate ruler before a carefully selected group of strictly white list journalists.
He began his statement with a declaration that robberies and attacks by fascist extremists were still going on in Kyiv. The parliament only voted on new measures under pressure of the EU, USA and Euromaidan, including terrorists throwing stones at them. Everything the parliament voted for and any other actions are illegal. Also, Israel is terrified of Ukraine now.
When asked why he left Ukraine, Yanukovych explained he had to, as his car had been attacked by people with automatic weapons. He feared for his and his family’s safety, so the best thing to do was leave the country. He also mentioned the illegal parliament threatened to lustrate his family, including his five year old grandson. He promised that once his safety could be guaranteed, he would return to Ukraine. When asked how he actually made it into Ukraine, Yanukovych simply stated with a grin that:
“Patriotically minded officers helped me, and that is all I’m going to say about that.”
He appeared to contradict himself when answering more questions, stating he was unsure why Putin so far had remained quiet on the issue. The ousted president then said that Russia had to act, but that he opposed any Russian intervention and that Crimea needed to remain a part of Ukraine. He claimed he never ordered police to shoot anyone, and Berkut were completely unarmed the entire time. He completely dodged a question about what happened to the billions that should be in the national treasury, and explained that the luxurious mansion and estate at Mezhyhirya was just a small 620 square meter house and a few acres of grounds that he bought for $3.2 million.
Yanukovych finished his news conference by making an appeal to the Ukrainian people and illegal government:
“Come to your senses and stop this lawlessness. You will be responsible for this. The end is clear. Ukrainian people will never agree to live with you in such a country. Thus I want to say: leave and do not allow more sorrow and lawlessness. I want to ask forgiveness from all who suffered and suffers. Second. All I can do I will do until the end of my life, to be with the Ukrainian people. Not with these nationalist Banderians, but with the people. I will always hold dear the departed souls. If I was in Ukraine I would bow to all and meet with all no matter what side of the barricades, as they say, they stood. Ukrainian people do not recognize these people in power. The truth will certainly come and it will triumph. Thank you.”
Edited/Published by: SB
