Yanukovych gave a press conference in Moscow: 10 main statements

February 6, a cursory former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, held a press conference in Moscow. He spoke about his attitude to the upcoming elections, also touched on the conflict in the Donbas and the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Screenshot from the video channel Russia 24 on YouTube

Edition “Columnist”Gathered the most vivid statements of the former head of the Ukrainian state.

About the perpetrators of the loss of Crimea

“Everything related to the division of the country, the authorities successfully carry out this. This includes the loss of the territory of Crimea,” he said.

“Who exactly is to blame for the loss of Crimea, the specific culprits, who violated the Constitution of Ukraine and carried out a coup d’etat, who shot innocent people who went to mass protests, and law enforcement agencies, who committed this terrible provocation?” Yanukovych asked questions.

About the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine and the current leader Petre Poroshenko

“I have known Petro Poroshenko for a very long time. The fact that he was a member of the Party of Regions, too. The trouble is that he is not a statesman, but a businessman. Money comes first, and he is ready to exchange everything for it. A distinctive feature is lying. He is very, very sophisticated,” Yanukovych said.

“All the presidential candidates, there are a lot of them, I haven’t seen their programs. I would not like to be unfounded. I'll say it in general. I hope that fresh faces will come into politics. They can try themselves in the presidential elections, then they will go to the parliamentary ones. We need youth. I remember myself like this. I don’t feel like an old man,” he said.

About your life in Russia

Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsymbalyuk asked how Yanukovych was feeling: “What are you doing? Everything you said about the war, Crimea, Donbass is what Putin says. Based on this, the question is: are you not a prisoner here? On what basis are you here?”

“I move calmly throughout the territory of Russia, I am not in Interpol bases. I can travel to any country,” Yanukovych replied.

About unanswered letters to Europe

Yanukovych complained that he was “dumped like a sucker”: “I want to be answered publicly. Why do I constantly address, during press conferences, in letters. How they (leaders of European countries) signed a peace agreement with me on the 21st and on the 21st armed thugs seized the Presidential Administration and government institutions. And the next day the democratic countries approved. What do they want from the yellow vests now? Ukraine was a pioneer. They encouraged lawlessness and unrest. I'm not saying apologize. Write “thank you for the letters.” I’m writing to nowhere, that’s the attitude.”

About nationalists in Ukraine

“Legalized terrorism against its citizens is what is happening in Ukraine. This is the ideology of the current government. It’s a pity that pogromists, anti-Semites, and radicals of all kinds are portrayed as heroes today. Young people are looking at this. Leads by example. This is very dangerous,” he said.

On the suffering of people in the occupied territories

“Why not show kindness to people. They dream of returning to their native land. It is impossible to talk to them for a long time; tears well up in your eyes. I have heard a lot, but now it becomes clear that we were expelled from our native land. But for what?” he said.

The quick president also called for resuming the work of polling stations in Russia and the annexed Crimea.

“Poroshenko and this gop-company can be asked the question: Is Crimea Ukrainian? How many Ukrainians live in Crimea, give them the opportunity to vote. What will be the answer? Why not open sites in Rostov, where there are a lot of Ukrainians? I sometimes go out for a walk through the streets, and it’s as if I’m walking through Donetsk. Everywhere you look there are Ukrainians,” he said.

About readiness to solve with Putin a question on an exchange of prisoners

“People who were captured is the worst thing in a person’s life, when you don’t belong to yourself. I am ready to take the initiative and exchange everyone for everyone. Do it once. Do not divide by more or less. Since such a situation has arisen, it will take us a long time to get out of it, but we need to solve it somehow. I am ready, if necessary, if there is such an initiative, I am ready to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin and make such a proposal,” Yanukovych noted.

How to end the war in the Donbas

“It all depends on the state of mind and the goal. Poroshenko’s state of mind is that he has no desire to end the war. The goal is that the war helps him stay in power. We need to sit down at the negotiating table with Ukrainian citizens who live in Donbass, as I did five years ago and spoke with the opposition. I get criticized for this. They told me that I had to put on gloves and boots and break their backs,” Yanukovych said.

About Tomos of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

“It was categorically unacceptable for the state, politicians, or the president to interfere in matters of religion. The church has always been separated from the state. Throughout the history of independent Ukraine, none of the presidents allowed interference in the affairs of the church. Of course, everything that happened in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was aimed not at reducing tensions, not at seeking the unification of the state, but at division, enmity, and hatred. Those people who took on this responsibility took on a great sin. This should not have been done,” he said.

On the events of 2014 of the year and the revolution of dignity

“The revolution of dignity in quotes - Maidan brought disappointed expectations, instability, chaos began to develop, and uncertainty settled in people’s souls. I don’t want to think about new Maidans. I don't want to squawk. I don’t even allow this to happen in my thoughts. I would like the truth to come out. Before this we only listened to lies. But you can't build anything on a lie. You need to build a good house, so that the foundation is based on truth and love, God's laws, you need to understand what God's grace is. The basis should be goodwill and creativity,” he added.

About sports injury after falling on the bench

“I definitely received hope that I could still play my favorite sport. And maybe in a month, maybe two, I’ll be on the court again. And everything happened very simply. We arrived on the court, there was no one there yet. Early in the morning it was pouring rain, and the window in the hall was open, and some water flew onto the court. During training, I seriously slipped and fell - there were wooden benches,” the former president of Ukraine shared.

Recall Obolonsky district court in Kiev 24 January in absentia recognized the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych guilty of treason and complicity in an aggressive war. Him sentenced to 13 years in prison.

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