This is amazing. Yanukovych appears to be broadcasting from a parallel universe
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Has a speaker this awful and boring ever held such a riveting press conference? This is amazing.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Ousted Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych spoke to the press in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don today. Journalists live-tweeted:
Yanukovych pressed has begun. pic.twitter.com/CWEcG9WDvL
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "I intend to fight for the future of Ukraine against those who are trying to saddle it with fear and terror"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Nobody overthrew me in Ukraine. I was forced to flee under threat" from Nazis "representing the absolute minority in Ukraine
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: As you know the govt is occupied by nationalists
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych now complaining that nobody observed the agreement signed with EU FMs a week ago. Already seems a lifetime
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
This is a coup of fascist mob of youngsters – #Yanukovych pic.twitter.com/utlWzfWf2a
— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych wants elex in December acc to peace treaty
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: I was forced to leave Ukraine due to serious threat to my life.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych wants all streets and squares vacated by protesters. He's out of touch completely
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Of course, it is very important to investigate the acts of violence jointly with the opposition and the Council of Europe"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych still thinks it's last week: refers to protesters as "the opposition," repeats demands to leave streets, says he's the president
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Recommended
Yanukovych demands early elections in December, to unblock and clear the streets all around Ukraine pic.twitter.com/JYCy9UFDGc
— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "The shocks and victims are the result of the irresponsible policies of the West, which supported the Maidan"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: Irresponsible West behind #Ukraine's crisis
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 28, 2014
Sure, Yanukovich, everything that happened in the country you ran is all _our_ fault.
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: #EuroMaidan represents an absolute minority of Ukrainian citizens.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: The armed people have to leave the streets both in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: victims are the consequences of the political crisis, the result of irresponsible policy of the West.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Who's this victory against? The Ukrainian people?"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: Kyiv was overflowed by amred people who attacked houses, churches… people were robbed in streets. It continues to this day.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych says that Ukraine's parliament is illegitimate. Keeps banging on about last Friday's agreement, says it would calm things down
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
I want to apologise to veterans, to Ukrainian people for what has happened in Ukraine. That I did not have the power to keep stability.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Yanukoych says that while he went from Kiev to Kharkov, he was shot at from a machine-gun
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
"I did not run away anywhere", says Yanukovych, in addition to "I was not overthrown." What next? "My name is not Viktor" ??
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych says that when got to Kharkov in the early morning the security service learned the town was full of "radically motivated groups"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
"There was no fear here. There has never been any fear. These were security measures that had to be accounted for and followed"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "I'm in Rostov because my old friend lives near here. I came to see him to find temporary refuge." Who? Putin's palace in Sochi?
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: What is happening in Crimea is a natural reaction to the bandit coup in Kiev
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Crimeans, naturally, don't want to be subjugated by nationalists and Banderites"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "As the president of Ukraine, I declare that Crimea should remain within the territory of Ukraine, retaining broad autonomy"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Military activities are unacceptable and I do not plan to appeal for any military help. Ukraine should remain united & whole"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: I think Crimeans are listening to me, I would like to ask them to not allow bloodshed.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
"I will return to Ukraine as soon as the conditions allow for my own safety and the safety of my family" … mmhmm
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Good luck with that.
Yanukovych: "I haven't met Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin." Spoke on the phone when he arrived. "We agreed to meet when he has the time" (!!!)
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych had hearing problems whenever a difficult question comes up. Moderator helps to drop such question.
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: It wasn't just me cheated, but all Ukrainian people were cheated.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "I'm going to hope that the so-called new government comes to its senses and atones for the violence going on in our country"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych says May 25 presidential elections are illegal and he won't participate. Can't win if you don't try
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: I see way out of crisis. Primarily it's agreement signed and not fulfilled on one side. Non-fulfillment to be blamed on West
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych asked about his money laundering, waffles on about "awful events in Kiev". Pretty lame stuff.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych not talking about his Swiss bank accounts. Smartest thing he's done in weeks
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Tymoshenko had a cushy cell in prison, says Yanukovych. Catty.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych on #Tymoshenko release: I have never wished her any harm.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Excellent question from @EchoMskRu: "How can you confirm with facts, and not words, that you're still the president of Ukraine?"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych replies with words – says he didn't sign the laws passed after he fled, so they're not legal. I don't think that's how it works
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: If prez doesn't resign, accrding to constitution, if he's alive – you can see I am – and if was not impeached, he's still prez
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "I am surprised that Putin continues to remain silent in such a reserved manner"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Freudian slip? #Yanukovych: I think #Ukraine is our strategic partner.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych on Maidan: I never gave orders to shoot , as you know the police were not armed until the last moment when they were attacked.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych actually, really just credited himself with single-handedly preventing bloodshed during Orange Revolution. 10 years ago.
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych now telling a rambling story about how he went to a train station and personally stopped all bloodshed in 2004 Orange Revolution
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych: "Everyone will know the truth. Right now horrible theatrical shows are going on organized by the people behind the bloodshed"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: There is not a single person more interested in all this ending peacefully than me.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
People in #Maidan gather round cars to listen to Yanukovych press conf on radio. Much derisive laughter.
— David Blair (@davidblairdt) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych asked if Putin thinks he's the president. "When we meet I'll understand and we'll probably have a discussion about what happened"
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych begging for Putin meeting makes him sound like a spurned boy-/girlfriend who thinks they're still going out
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych has clearly been reading self-help manuals. Keep repeating to yourself that you're the president of Ukraine and it'll come true
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Finally, a question about the ostriches and ponies in Yanukovych's house! Well done @lifenews_ru
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych says he owns his palace, has lived in it since 1999, was allowed to live there by Kuchma. Now full of journos investigating him
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych smiles at Qs abt his opulent residence: "That's the biggest question" pic.twitter.com/Kl3VqIdh3u
— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych trying to explain why his palace is so fancy: "it was old and needed repairs." Remont! Always with the remont excuse!
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych on #Mezhyhirya: I only own a house. It was old and I had to renovate it. I sold everything I had and bought that house
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 28, 2014
Oh god stop this!
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych's involuntary smirk while bullshitting is back. Like he could never believe he was president & so wealthy pic.twitter.com/sCc0nWbav8
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych says the pictures of how fabulous his interior was, custom cognac, paintings, gold loaf of bread were all fakes to discredit him
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: I rented some space at Mezhyhirya to fulfill function of head of state. Not all mine. I paid $3.2M for my part. Rest not mine.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Yanukovych still smirking as he assures Ukrainian people that he is their leader. This is the post-Soviet equivalent of the Dean Scream
— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 28, 2014
#Yanukovych: I would like to again address those who call themselves legal power in #Ukraine — Leave and do not allow more lawlessness.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2014
Well, that was incredible
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 28, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.