Yanukovych blames West for chaos, lawlessness in Ukraine

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday blamed "irresponsible" Western powers for chaos and lawlessness in his country. "Outcome of the crisis will be difficult as a result of irresponsible Western policy of supporting Maiden (the Independence Square)," he told a press conference in a southern port city of Russia in his first public appearance after a week-long hiding. "But we'll overcome," he stressed. Yanukovych said the current Supreme Rada, the parliament, was illegitimate because power in Ukraine has been seized by nationalists "who represent absolutely minority of the population." He accused the opposition of violating the agreement on constitutional reform signed on Feb. 21. The agreement, if implemented, he said, could have calmed the situation. "What happened afterwards could only be called lawlessness, terror and chaos. Rada has been making decisions, coercing some members to vote," he told the news conference in Rostov-on-Don, some 1,000 km southwest of Moscow. "These are not Parliament's decisions, these are Maiden's decisions," he added. Meanwhile, he said, "I am ashamed. Moreover I'd like to beg pardon for what happened, for I failed to keep stability and not to allow lawlessness in the country." However, Yanukovych insisted that he "did not escape." "I moved from Kiev to Kharkov, during which I was fired at by automatic guns," he said. "I asked head of administration and chairman of Rada who accompanied me to fly to Donetsk while I'll fly to Lugansk by two helicopters. We were warned by military and air traffic controllers that they'll intercept us unless we change the route. So we got to land in Donetsk."