Runaway President: As Manhunt Continues, What Exactly Are Yanukovych’s Choices?

Ukrainian protesters have actually required their death.

The united states’s interim leaders have actually granted an arrest warrant for him on fees of “mass murder.” And from now on, lawmakers would you like to drag him prior to the Overseas Criminal Court within the Hague.

However the question that is main: Where is Viktor Yanukovych?

Rumors about their whereabouts have already been swirling considering that the ousted president fled Kyiv in the evening after apparently security that is evading by fleeing their luxurious property outside of the money by helicopter,

Yanukovych reemerged the following day in a tv meeting from an undisclosed location — initially reported to stay the northeastern town of Kharkiv — keeping him to Nazis that he was still the president and comparing the protesters who overthrew.

Since that time, there has been no sightings that are confirmed.

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Some state he desired refuge in a monastery outside of the city that is eastern of. Other people thought he had been smuggled into a Russian naval base in Sevastopol or escaped on an extra yacht through the Ebony water slot of Balaclava.

Together with his allies that are political far from him in droves, Yanukovych’s choices are quickly narrowing.

Secure Havens?

There clearly was conjecture he had been issued refuge in Russia, whoever leadership rejects the interim federal government created away from Ukraine’s bloody three-month protests as illegitimate.

But Moscow’s help of Yanukovych is lukewarm at the best, and several in Russia think the Kremlin is reluctant to jeopardize its high-stakes relations with Ukraine by giving him asylum.

“Moscow will likely not, plus in my estimation must not, work as a benefactor for Yanukovych along with his household,” claims Maksim Shevchenko, a prominent journalist that is russian tv presenter, that is regarded as pro-Kremlin. “He inspires hatred and contempt in every levels of Ukrainian culture. Today, to freely help Yanukovych would be to defy the Ukrainian individuals. Notwithstanding Ukraine’s governmental issues as well as the fact there are many forces that are political Ukraine which are unsatisfactory for Moscow — the nationwide socialists — i believe Moscow desires to retain some levers of impact in Ukraine.”

A different country touted just as one haven that is safe Yanukovych is Belarus, whose authoritarian frontrunner Alyaksandr Lukashenka offered refuge to deposed Kyrgyz President Kurmambek Bakiev.

Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko apparently cautioned Lukashenka in a phone discussion against offering sanctuary to Yanukovych or anybody from their disgraced entourage.

The chances of Yanukovych arriving in Minsk, but, appear slim.

“Lukashenka was not on good terms with Yanukovych,” claims Yury Drakakhrust, a correspondent that is political RFE/RL’s Belarus provider. “since strange he had much friendlier relations with the first Maidan leader, [Viktor] Yushchenko as it may seem. Belarus and Ukraine likewise have a essential trade amount. Are you aware that asylum he granted to Bakiev, it had been an endeavor to exhibit some authority in Central Asia. However in this area, it seems sensible to not be in Russia’s method. Therefore by consuming Yanukovych, Lukashenka has absolutely nothing to win and far to lose.”

Trail Goes Cold

Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, that has been leading the manhunt for Yanukovych, stated the deposed president along with his bodyguards had tried to flee Ukraine from Donetsk.

“He attempted to travel down,”Avakov composed in a Facebook post. “The edge solution prevented their takeoff.”

In accordance with Avakov, Yanukovych then drove to a situation residence in Donetsk before maneuvering to Crimea later on 22 february.

The path goes cool in Balaclava. This is when the ousted frontrunner is believed to have released the majority of their safety workers before driving away within an direction that is unknown escorted by a few devoted guards.

Ukraine’s brand brand brand brand new leaders are determined to thwart their dash for freedom http://datingmentor.org/polyamory-date-review and bring him to justice for the fatalities of lots of protesters.

The step that is first be to make certain their security.

Andriy Klyuyev, the head that is former of’s administration and something associated with the guys whom fled Kyiv with him, ended up being apparently assaulted by a team of 20 unidentified assailants on February 24 on their long ago to Kyiv.

Reports state Klyuyev was hospitalized after sustaining a gunshot that is severe within the assault.

Yelena Rykovtseva from RFE/RL’s Russian provider contributed for this report from Moscow

Claire Bigg

Claire Bigg covers Russia, Ukraine, therefore the world that is post-Soviet with a concentrate on human being liberties, civil culture, and social problems.