Yanukovych: I was not overthrown (video)
Ukraine's ex-President Viktor Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being ousted last week, telling a news conference in Russia he would fight for his country. He said he was "not overthrown", but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life. Those who drove him from power were "young neo-fascist thugs", he said. “I intend to continue the fight for the future of Ukraine against those who, with fear and with terror, are attempting to replace the power," he said, speaking Russian, not Ukrainian. He accused the interim authorities in Ukraine of propagating violence, saying that they were responsible for the bloodshed last week, in which dozens of protesters died in clashes with security forces, including snipers. I never gave any orders to shoot," he said, adding that he sought peace and that the security forces took up arms only when their own lives were at risk. "I can't find words to characterise this new authority. These are people who advocate violence - the Ukrainian parliament is illegitimate. "What's going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress." He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having "enough strength to keep stability" and for allowing "lawlessness in this country". 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. He said he arrived in Russia "thanks to a patriotically minded young officer" and was given refuge in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border, by an old friend. Yanukovych said he would return to Ukraine "as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family". But he ruled out taking part in elections planned for 25 May, describing them as "illegal". Yanukovych called for an impartial inquiry into the bloodshed under the supervision of the country’s authorities, opposition and European Council. And he said he was "ashamed" that he had not been able to maintain stability in his country. "I want to apologize in front of everybody -- to the veterans, to the Ukrainian people -- that I did not have the strength to stop what is now taking place in the country from taking place," he said.
