Tension in Crimea, Yanukovych asks for Russian protection
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Tension has risen in Crimea after an armed group seized the parliament of the autonomous Ukrainian province and raised the Russian flag on Thursday. Russian-speaking groups on the peninsula are speaking out against the change in power in the country, while Crimean Tatars are in favor of the revolution.
Ukraine’s new authorities are alarmed with the situation and have asked Russia not to abuse its rights to the navy base in Crimea’s Sevastopol. “Any military movements, the more so if they are with weapons, beyond the boundaries of this territory (the base) will be seen by us as military aggression,” Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has said.
Meanwhile ousted President Viktor Yanukovych issued a statement to the people of Ukraine saying that he still considers himself the rightful head of state. He also said he has asked Russian authorities to provide him with personal protection.
Russian media said that Yanukovych has been in Moscow since Monday night. In Ukraine he is now officially wanted for murder as the person responsible for shooting on the streets of Kiev during anti-government demonstrations.
Following months of protests, Ukraine’s parliament ousted the president and government late last week. This week a new government was named, with one of the opposition leaders Arseniy Yatseniuk as prime minister.
