Putin: to Express support for Yanukovych in 2004 asked the then head of Ukraine

Russian President centuries Putin said That Moscow has always cooperated with authorities and in 2004, the acting head of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma asked him to Express support for the candidacy of Viktor Yanukovych in the presidential elections.

" We always rely on the current government, has always supported her, but it's not this means That We somehow hostile attitude to the opposition, no, We are all exactly relate, but cooperate with the current government, " Putin said at the all-Russian youth forum " Seliger-2014 ".

" So it was during the presidency of Leonid Kuchma, and when his presidency was over, I asked directly: " Leonid Kuchma, whom Russia should support in the upcoming presidential elections?" He told me: " Yanukovych ". I have doubts, finally decided whether Kuchma on the candidacy of Viktor Yanukovych, and I asked him about it at the final stage of preparation of the presidential campaign, and He replied: " the issue has been resolved, resolved, will support and advance Yanukovych, and I ask you and the Russian Federation to Express support for its information resources to articulate support." And we did, " said Putin.

" And then, when they have committed a total debauchery with a third round of elections, in a different way and it's impossible to say, I, of course, the mouth opened, " said the Russian President. Ukrainian opposing political force did not recognize the victory of Yanukovych in the 2nd round of elections, were launched numerous protests ( the " orange revolution " ), the result of the confrontation, the parties reached a compromise: he was appointed " third round " of the elections (again valaisiana in the 2nd round), which was won by the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, at the same time the constitutional amendments limited the range of possibilities of a new President.

" I then turned to Leonid Danilovich: " What are You? Do you support or not support?" He (Yanukovych) not allowed to use the result of his election, He was defeated in the 2nd round, it All unfolded in a fairly sharp struggle, Yushchenko, who became President, Tymoshenko, who became Prime Minister - it is not, apparently, too much success is not reached, if then (in the upcoming presidential elections in 2010) defeated Yanukovych, " he said.

Key statements centuries Putin's all-Russian youth forum " Seliger-2014 " -

Developments in Ukraine and in the new Russia: latest information, photos and videos from space, response and explanation -


sections: Politics