10:42
27.2.2014
Meanwhile, more on Yanukovych from RFE/RL's newsdesk:
In a written message to the Ukrainian people, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych says he still considers himself to be the country's legitimately elected head of state.
He also said he has asked Russian authorities to ensure his personal safety against the actions of "extremists."
In the message, sent to Russian news agencies, Yanukovych says decisions taken by Ukraine's parliament are illegal.
He said Ukraine's southeastern and southern regions will not accept lawlessness in the country, "where ministers are elected by the mob on a square."
Yanukovych was ousted by Ukraine's parliament on February 22 following three months of antigovernment protests and deadly unrest.
Russian media reports quote an unidentified source as saying Russia has agreed to ensure Yanukovych's personal safety on its territory.
A Russian media report said Yanukovych was in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow, but that report has been denied by Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information whatsoever about the whereabouts of Yanukovych.
A spokesman for the presidential administration's property department, Viktor Khrekov, said he had no information about Yanukovych staying at the Barvykha sanatorium, which is run by the department.
Russia's RBK news network reported that Yanukovych was staying in Barvykha after arriving in Moscow overnight on February 25.
RBK says the information came from one of Russia's wealthiest businessmen and was confirmed by a government official, neither of whom was identified. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA, Interfax, AP)
In a written message to the Ukrainian people, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych says he still considers himself to be the country's legitimately elected head of state.
He also said he has asked Russian authorities to ensure his personal safety against the actions of "extremists."
In the message, sent to Russian news agencies, Yanukovych says decisions taken by Ukraine's parliament are illegal.
He said Ukraine's southeastern and southern regions will not accept lawlessness in the country, "where ministers are elected by the mob on a square."
Yanukovych was ousted by Ukraine's parliament on February 22 following three months of antigovernment protests and deadly unrest.
Russian media reports quote an unidentified source as saying Russia has agreed to ensure Yanukovych's personal safety on its territory.
A Russian media report said Yanukovych was in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow, but that report has been denied by Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information whatsoever about the whereabouts of Yanukovych.
A spokesman for the presidential administration's property department, Viktor Khrekov, said he had no information about Yanukovych staying at the Barvykha sanatorium, which is run by the department.
Russia's RBK news network reported that Yanukovych was staying in Barvykha after arriving in Moscow overnight on February 25.
RBK says the information came from one of Russia's wealthiest businessmen and was confirmed by a government official, neither of whom was identified. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA, Interfax, AP)
10:29
27.2.2014
10:12
27.2.2014
Pro-Russia protesters outside #Crimea parliament. "We've been waiting for this moment for 20 yrs. United Russia!" pic.twitter.com/nXDSM84aa3
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) February 27, 2014
10:04
27.2.2014
Yanukovych UPDATE! This just in from the wires:
In a written message to the Ukrainian people, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych says that he still sees himself as the legimately elected head of state. He said he has asked Russian authorities to ensure his personal security. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
In a written message to the Ukrainian people, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych says that he still sees himself as the legimately elected head of state. He said he has asked Russian authorities to ensure his personal security. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS)
09:58
27.2.2014
This was tweeted about 20-30 minutes ago by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen:
I'm concerned about developments in #Crimea. I urge #Russia not to take any action that can escalate tension or create misunderstanding
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) February 27, 2014
09:27
27.2.2014
More Crimea-related news, this time from RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service:
KAZAN, Russia -- A delegation of lawmakers from Russia's Republic of Tatarstan has left for Ukraine’s volatile autonomous Crimea Republic.
Tatar parliament speaker Farit Mukhametshin said today that the delegation's task is to assist Crimean authorities to restore order on the peninsula, where he said "destructive forces are trying to disrupt interethnic concord."
The Tatar delegation travels to Crimea as a group of unknown armed men have taken over the Crimean parliament and government headquarters in Simferopol, raising Russian flags atop the buildings early this morning.
On February 26, thousands of Crimean Tatars scuffled with pro-Russian demonstrators outside the Crimean parliament, preventing lawmakers from holding an extraordinary session to debate the situation after the ouster of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Tatars in Russia's Tatarstan and Crimean Tatars share common historical roots, culture, Islamic background, and language.
Tatar parliament speaker Farit Mukhametshin said today that the delegation's task is to assist Crimean authorities to restore order on the peninsula, where he said "destructive forces are trying to disrupt interethnic concord."
The Tatar delegation travels to Crimea as a group of unknown armed men have taken over the Crimean parliament and government headquarters in Simferopol, raising Russian flags atop the buildings early this morning.
On February 26, thousands of Crimean Tatars scuffled with pro-Russian demonstrators outside the Crimean parliament, preventing lawmakers from holding an extraordinary session to debate the situation after the ouster of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Tatars in Russia's Tatarstan and Crimean Tatars share common historical roots, culture, Islamic background, and language.
09:23
27.2.2014
Here is a video of Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov commenting this morning on Crimea and Russia's Black Sea fleet (in Ukrainian):
08:52
27.2.2014
Meanwhile, let's not forget the economic repercussions of the turmoil in Ukraine:
Ukraine's hyrvnia down another 3% today to a new low 10.45 per dollar. That's 15% fall so far this week: pic.twitter.com/Dm3bIhGw4u
— Jamie McGeever (@ReutersJamie) February 27, 2014
08:48
27.2.2014
Here's another Crimea update from RFE/RL's newsdesk:
Ukraine's acting president has appealed for calm after the regional government headquarters and the parliament in Crimea were seized by a group of armed men, who raised the Russian flag on top of the buildings.
Oleksandr Turchynov blamed the seizure of the buildings in the regional capital, Simferopol, early this morning on "criminals in military fatigues."
He also warned Russia against "military aggression" in Crimea.
It was not immediately clear who was occupying the buildings.
Crimean Prime Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov said a group of around 50 men had seized the buildings but they had not made any demands.
Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says police have been put on alert.
There has been rising concern about separatist tendencies in Crimea, with its largely ethnic Russian population, after the ouster of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. (Reuters, AP, Interfax)
Oleksandr Turchynov blamed the seizure of the buildings in the regional capital, Simferopol, early this morning on "criminals in military fatigues."
He also warned Russia against "military aggression" in Crimea.
It was not immediately clear who was occupying the buildings.
Crimean Prime Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov said a group of around 50 men had seized the buildings but they had not made any demands.
Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says police have been put on alert.
There has been rising concern about separatist tendencies in Crimea, with its largely ethnic Russian population, after the ouster of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. (Reuters, AP, Interfax)
08:39
27.2.2014
Like penguin documentary in Turkey @mashant Crisis in Crimea but local channel airing documentary about marmots http://t.co/UdnYE6Jtwm …
— Thomas Grove (@tggrove) February 27, 2014