Ukraine’s acting government has issued an arrest warrant for President Viktor Yanukovych.
He’s wanted in connection with the deaths of protesters in last week’s demonstrations. New government leaders say a crackdown Yanukovych ordered on the protests left 82 people dead. (Via ITN, Channel 4)
Yanukovych, of course, triggered months of protests when he ditched an association agreement with the European Union last November, in favor of a bailout package from Russia. (Via Euronews)
A message posted on Facebook by Ukraine’s interior minister Monday read "As of this morning a mass murder of peaceful citizens case has been initiated ... Yanukovych and a number of other officials were put on a wanted list.”
Yanukovych's exact wherabouts remain a mystery. He was reportedly last seen in the Russian-speaking Black Sea peninsula of Crimea Sunday.
According to some reports, he tried boarding a charter plane but was turned away when he didn’t have the proper documents. (Via NBC)
One thing's for sure — he's not in his lavish residence in Kiev. The presidential palace was overrun by journalists and protesters Saturday. (Via YouTube / Віталій Уманець)
So for now, it's a little unclear who's in charge.
In a TV address Saturday, Yanukovych insisted he was still president and all the actions taken by the parliament were illegal. (Via ENCA)
But the parliament is moving forward with plans for a new government — having appointed its speaker Oleksandr Turchynov as acting president. (Via Arirang News)
The parliament has until Tuesday to form a new unity government. Presidential elections are scheduled for May.
