Ukraine's Yanukovych calls for referendum

Deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych has called for a referendum, which would define the future of Ukrainian statehood. According to the former president, the Ukrainian people should choose between a federal and a unitary state system, as well as between the presidential and parliamentary republic.

In an interview published by Russia's private Dozhd TV channel today, Yanukovych also condemned the current Ukrainian authorities for supporting far-right groups and for violating the country's law.

The deposed president also said that it is the authorities in Kyiv that are responsible for provoking the Crimean crisis.

Viktor Yanukovych is believed to be staying in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. The Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies have charged the former president with mass murder. According to prosecutors in Kyiv, Yanukovych is responsible for the deaths of several dozen opposition activists.