TEMPO.CO, Moscow - Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was reportedly seen in Moscow, at a five-star hotel once favored by the late Boris Yeltsin.
According to the Associated Press, Russia knows of his whereabout but did not officially welcome him. Although Russia still considers him the legitimate president of Ukraine, the Kremlin has treated him cautiously and portrayed him as a coward who betrayed his supporters.
Rumors of Yanukovych being in Moscow spread following his written statement which was released by two Russian news agencies. "I have to ask Russia to ensure my personal safety from extremists," he wrote. Shortly afterward, the same agencies quoted a Russian official as saying the request had been "satisfied on the territory of Russia." The ITAR-Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies are often used by the government to issue official statements.
Yanokivych left Ukraine's capital nearly a week ago after three months of continuous protests. His last public appearance was on Saturday last week in the eastern Ukrainain city of Kharkiv, where he declared in a speech that he was still president and would never leave the country.
Opposition leaders said that Yanukovych tried to fly out of the country from Donetsk, also in eastern Ukraine, but was stopped by border officers. He then showed up on the Crimean Peninsula, where Russia has a naval base, according to the acting interior minister. He and his loyal supporters were seen driving away in three cars last Monday.
AP | TRIP B
