MOSCOW: The Ukrainian ousted President Viktor Yanukovych has asked Russia to ensure his safety against the actions of extremists and said that he is still the legitimate leader of the country, Russian media quoted his statement on Thursday.
“On the streets of many cities of our country, extremism thrives. Threats of bodily harm are thrown at me and my collaborators. I’m forced to ask the Russian authorities to ensure my personal security against the actions of extremists,” Yanukovich was quoted as saying.
The ousted president also warned against an internal military conflict and said that the southeast of the country and the Crimea don’t acknowledge the mayhem in Ukraine under which leaders are chosen by the crowd.
Yanukovich also said that he didn’t order the Ukrainian army to interfere in the internal political events, and he doesn’t order it now.
“If someone gave such orders to the armed or security forces, these orders would be illegitimate, criminal,” Yanukovich added.
