Ukraine’s ex-President Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being ousted, telling a news conference in Russia he would fight for his country.
Mr Yanukovych said he was “not overthrown”, but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life.
He said the current parliament was “illegitimate”, and described those who drove him from power as “young neo-fascist thugs” representing only a minority of Ukrainians.
Mr Yanukovych was ousted on Saturday, after a sustained campaign by protesters ended in a bloody crackdown.
Tensions have risen since he stepped down, especially in the Crimea region.
On Friday, Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out an “armed invasion” there, by sending naval forces to occupy Sevastopol airport.
Reappearance
“I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear,” Mr Yanokovych said.
“What’s going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress,” he said. “I can’t find words to characterise this new authority. These are people who advocate violence – the Ukrainian parliament is illegitimate.”
He said the only way out of the crisis was to implement in full the agreement he signed last week with opposition leaders and three European foreign ministers in Kiev.
The news conference is being held in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukrainian border.
Mr Yanukoych disappeared after leaving office but resurfaced in Russia on Thursday, asserting that he was still Ukraine’s lawful president.
Earlier on Friday, Ukraine’s general prosecutor said he would ask Russia to extradite Mr Yanukovych.
BBC
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