Yanukovych: I am still legitimate president

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych held his second press conference in Rostov-on-the-Don on March 11, saying he still is the legitimate president of Ukraine, the Ukrainian media portal TSN reported.

“I did not give up my authority before the end of my term. I am still alive, and I was not removed from the position of president in accordance with the Ukrainian Constitution. Therefore, I still am the legitimately elected president of Ukraine and moreover the supreme commander,” the ousted leader said at the press conference.

In addition, Yanukovych also called the acting authorities a “gang of neo-fascists and nationalists,” and added that the presidential elections planned in May would be “absolutely illegitimate and illegal,” the media wrote.

Yanukovych said that he will return to Ukraine “once the circumstances allow to do so,” TSN said.

The first press conference by the Ukrainian leader was also held in Rostov-on-the-Don. He made his first public appearance on Feb. 28, since fleeing Ukraine followed by signing a deal with the Ukrainian opposition.