Yanukovych: “Maidan” pushed Crimea towards secession
Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych negatively assesses the separation of Crimea from Ukraine, but believes that it was provoked by the Maidan. He stated this today at a press conference in Rostov-on-Don.
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“It’s bad that Crimea separated from Ukraine. This was not a surprise to me when I saw operational information about how about 8 buses with people who came from Crimea to Kyiv for peaceful protests were shot. These people were beaten, one bus exploded, people ran into the forest, and the thugs started hunting them. People returned and told what the Maidan was bringing to Crimea,” Yanukovych said.
In his opinion, it was after this that the mood on the peninsula became radicalized.
“People began to create self-defense units and seek protection in Russia. Maidan paved the way for the referendum. Pro-Russian sentiments have always been there. The voting results were predetermined,” Yanukovych said.
He said that he discussed the problem of Crimea with Vladimir Putin and respects his position as patriotic.
Yanukovych : Maidan Pushed Crimea to Secession