28/02/2014 17:48
Ukraine asks Russia to extradite Yanukovych
Ukraine’s chief prosecutor asked Russia to extradite deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday, as the fugitive leader prepared in Russia to give his first press conference since his disappearance in Ukraine earlier this week, RIA Novosti reported.
The statement, posted on the Prosecutor’s Office website, said Ukraine “intends to raise the issue of extradition of Viktor Yanukovych, an internationally wanted citizen of Ukraine, in the event of official confirmation of his stay” in Russia.
Yanukovych is scheduled to hold a press conference in the southwestern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don at 5 p.m. local time (11 GMT) on Friday.
Local news agency DonInformBuro, citing undisclosed sources, reported that Yanukovych had landed at a military airport in the city escorted by fighter jets late on Thursday.
Meanwhile, according to The Associated Press, the Swiss government has ordered financial institutions in the country to freeze any assets belonging to Yanukovych and people close to him.
The government said in a statement Friday that the order is effective immediately and the decision was taken in coordination with other financial centers.
It said the move was an attempt to "prevent any risk of misappropriation of Ukrainian government property."
The statement didn't specify how much, if any, money Yanukovych and his entourage have in Switzerland.