Ukraine issue arrest warrant for ex-president Yanukovych

An arrest warrant for the missing ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, has been issued after MPs voted to remove Yanukovych from power for the “mass murder of innocent civilians”.

A search for the ex-head of state is being carried out and the interior minister of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, revealed details of Yanukovych’s recent movements.

“Yanukovych flew by helicopter from Kiev to Kharkov, intending to take part in the Congress of Deputies,” he said.

“On Saturday [Yanukovych] spent the night in Gozrezedencii in Kharkov and refused to take part in the Congress”, according to Avakov’s official Facebook page.

Yanukovych recorded a video message that was televised on Saturday.

He said: “I am not leaving the country for anywhere. I do not intend to resign. I am the legitimately elected president.”

Yanukovych attempted to board a plane at Donetsk airport on Saturday, however, border control blocked the flight.

Yanukovych left for Crimea and arrived on Sunday, stopping at a private resort. He soon left the resort with part of his entourage.

Avakov reported that “three cars left for an unknown destination, turning off all forms of communication”.

Protesters occupied Independence Square after the government announced it was abandoning the EU Association Agreement, sparking the deadliest violence the country has seen since it gained independence 22 years ago.

Parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Turchynov will in the mean-time take over presidential duties before parliament form a new unity government.

Former prime minister and opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, was released from prison on Saturday, after spending three years in jail.  

Speaking to protesters in Kiev, she said: “Today we have an open way to build Ukraine as you like it…  Those who fell, fell for us today to stop the dictatorship together… Ahead of us is a very important task, first of all you don’t have the right to leave this square until we achieve real change in this country, until there is an authority that will not allow the country to step back.”

Vanessa Smart