MOSCOW: The ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said on Friday that the power in Ukraine was seized by a fascist minority, blaming irresponsible policies of the West for the country’s simmering crisis.
In his first press conference since his ouster in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday, Yanukovych said that he had not been deposed, rather he had been stripped of power by what he called pro-fascist mobs.
“I have not been overthrown by anyone, I was compelled to leave Ukraine due to an immediate threat to my life and the life of those close to me,” Yanukovych said.
Yanukovych also emphasized that the crisis in the country remains unsolved and it must be resolved.
The ousted president blamed the West’s irresponsible policies for the failure of an agreement, aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing crisis, signed between him and the opposition last week.
“This is the result of the irresponsible policies of the West, which was supporting the Maidan” protesters, said Yanukovych, referring to the square in the capital Kiev where anti-government demonstrations have taken place for the past three months.
In addition, Yanukovych vowed to continue to fight for the future of his country and that he would come back to Ukraine once his safety could be guaranteed.
