ukraine the most irrelevant people
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8/12/2019 Ukraine the Most Irrelevant People
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Ukraine's new acting government is not legitimate, Russian prime minister DmitryMedvedev has said. "If people crossing Kiev in black masks and Kalashnikov rifles areconsidered a government, it will be difficult for us to work with such a government," theprime minister said."Some of our foreign, western partners think otherwise, considering them to be legitimateauthorities. I do not know which constitution, which laws, they were reading, but it seems to
me it is an aberration of perception when something that is essentially the result of a mutinyis called legitimate."
He also called the legitimacy of many of Ukraine's governing bodies "doubtful", adding:"There is no one to deal with there [in Ukraine]; masked and armed people are no partnersfor dialogue."
The Russian PM said he did not understand what was happening in Ukraine. "There is areal threat to our interests and to the lives of our citizens," he said. "There are big doubtsabout the legitimacy of a whole series of organs of power that are now functioning there."
But Medvedev also said any legally-binding Russian-Ukranian agreements "must behonoured". There are fears about the future of a gas deal agreed in December under
which Russia reduced the gas price for Kiev to $268.50 per 1,000 cubic metres, from the$400 which Ukraine had paid since 2009."Those agreements which are legally binding must be honoured," Medvedev said. "We arenot cooperating with personalities or isolated individuals. These are inter-state relations.We are neighbours, close nations, and we cannot run away from one another. Whateverhas been signed must be honoured. For us, Ukraine remains a serious and importantpartner."
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, has yet to comment on the events that swept Ukrainianpresident Viktor Yanukovych out of power on Saturday.The hunt is now on for Yanukovych, who is currently believed to be hiding in the pro-Russian Crimean peninsula. The country's new acting government has issued a warrant for
his arrest, accusing him of the mass murder of protesters who died in street clashes lastweek.
Ukraine's acting interior minister, Arsen Avakhov, said on his official Facebook page onMonday that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Yanukovych and several otherofficials for the "mass killing of civilians". At least 82 people, primarily protesters, were killedin clashes in the capital, Kiev, last week. After signing an agreement with the opposition, Yanukovych fled the capital for easternUkraine. Avakhov said he tried to fly out of Donetsk but was stopped, then went to Crimea.Yanukovych appeared in a video address on Saturday evening claiming he was still thepresident, but he has lost the support of most of his party and his main goal now willprobably be to flee the country without being arrested.
Avakhov said Yanukovych arrived in Crimea on Sunday, relinquished his official securitydetail and then drove off to an unknown location. There were rumours that a yacht namedthe Bandido, believed to belong to Yanukovych's son, was spotted in the harbour in theCrimean port of Balaclava.
In Balaclava on Monday there was no sign of either the yacht or the president, and localsclaimed they had not seen Yanukovych in recent days. Officials in Sevastopol alsoprofessed ignorance. In Kiev, western diplomats said they had no idea of the president'slocation.
Calls are mounting in Ukraine to put Yanukovych on trial after a tumultuous presidency inwhich he amassed powers, enriched his allies and cracked down on demonstrators. Angerboiled over last week after snipers attacked protesters in the bloodiest violence in Ukraine's
post-Soviet history.
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The turmoil has raised fears that the country, with a population of 46 million, could splitapart. The economy is on the brink of default and loyalties are torn between Europe andRussia.Tensions have been mounting in Crimea, where pro-Russian protester sraised a Russianflag on a city hall in one town and scuffled with police. Russia maintains a big naval base inSevastopol that has complicated relations between the countries for two decades.
The protests were sparked in November when Yanukovych shelved an agreement with theEU and turned towards Russia. The movement quickly expanded its grievances to allegedcorruption and human rights abuses, and called for Yanukovych's resignation.
"We must find Yanukovych and put him on trial," said Leonid Shovtak, a 50-year-old farmerfrom the western Ivano-Frankivsk region who came to Kiev's Independence Square to takepart in the three-month protest movement. "All the criminals with him should be in prison."
The parliamentary speaker assumed the president's powers on Sunday, even though apresidential aide told the Associated Press on Sunday that Yanukovych planned to stay inpower.
The speaker, Oleksandr Turchinov, said top priorities included saving the economy and
"returning to the path of European integration", according to news agencies. The latterphrase is certain to displease Moscow, which wants Ukraine to be part of a customs unionthat would rival the EU and bolster Russia's influence. Russia granted Ukraine a $15bn(£9bn) bailout after Yanukovych backed away from the EU deal.
The US ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said America was ready to help Ukraine get aid fromthe International Monetary Fund. The EU is reviving efforts to strike a deal with Ukraine thatcould involve billions of euros in economic perks. The EU foreign policy chief, Lady Ashton,is visiting Kiev on Monday and Tuesday.
The protest movement has been in large part a fight for the country's economic future – forbetter jobs and prosperity. Ukraine has struggled with corruption, bad government andshort-sighted reliance on cheap gas from Russia. Political unrest has worsened the deficitand caused volatile exchange rates, and may have pushed the economy back into arecession.
Per capita economic output is only around $7,300, even adjusted for the lower cost ofliving, compared with $22,200 in Poland and around $51,700 in the US. Ukraine ranks137th in the world for output, behind El Salvador, Namibia, and Guyana.
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Article history
World news
Viktor Yanukovych ·
Ukraine ·
Europe ·
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Russia
More news
LIVE Warrant issued for arrest of Viktor Yanukovych – live updates
Interior minister says former president – last seen in pro-Russian Crimea peninsula – is suspected of
involvement in killing of civilians
Western nations scramble to contain fallout of Ukraine crisis
Yulia Tymoshenko is centre stage again, but not everyone wants her there
Crisis fuels secession calls in pro-Russian south
Multimedia
A day out at the Ukrainian president's palace – in pictures
Hundreds of people took advantage of Viktor Yanukovych's absence for a spot of sightseeing at his
residence in Mezhyhirya, near Kiev
Ukrainian police fire at protesters in Kiev – video
Comment and debate
Simon Jenkins: How Putin plays the crisis in Ukraine will decide his fate
The Sochi Games are over and now the Russian president must deal with the uprising in Kiev – but as a
statesman or a bully?
Simon Tisdall: Russia feels double-crossed over Ukraine – but what will Putin do?
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