Yanukovych addresses the nation still as legitimate president

Viktor Yanukovych stated in his address to the nation on February 27 that he still considered himself the legitimate president of the country. The text of his statement was distributed by Russian news agencies.

"I, Viktor Yanukovych, speaking to the people of Ukraine, still think of myself as the legitimate head of the Ukrainian state, elected on the basis of the free will of Ukrainian citizens. I can not stay indifferent to the tragic events in my homeland. I believe that the agreement on the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine that was signed by me and the leaders of the Ukrainian opposition in the presence of esteemed Western partners on February 21, 2014 has not been executed. Extremism is on rampage in the streets of many cities of our country. My associates and me receive death threats.

"I am forced to ask the Russian authorities to ensure my personal safety from actions of extremists. Unfortunately, all that is happening now in the Verkhovna Rada, has no legitimate character. The decisions that the Parliament takes in the absence of many members of the Party of Regions faction and members of other factions, who fear for their safety, and some were subjected to physical violence and were forced to leave the territory of Ukraine, are illegal.

"I am convinced that in these conditions, all decisions will soon prove to be ineffective and will not be fulfilled. In this situation, I officially declare my determination to fight to the end for the implementation of important compromise agreements to take Ukraine out from the deep political crisis. I urge everyone to immediately return the situation in our country in the constitutional field.

"Now it becomes obvious that the people in the south-east of Ukraine and in the Crimea do not accept anarchy and lawlessness in the country, when it is a crowd of people on squares that elects the heads of ministries. I, as the current president, did not allow Ukrainian armed forces to intervene in political events. I thereby order it now as well. Should anyone give such an order to the Armed Forces and security agencies, such orders shall be considered illegal and criminal," Viktor Yanukovych said in a statement.