MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax) - Viktor Yanukovych has described Crimea's secession from Ukraine as a tragedy.
Yanukovych told The Associated Press and Russian television channel NTV that he "would have tried to prevent it" if he had been in rule when the secession movement emerged in Crimea.
"It is a vivid example of such protest sentiments making the population of such a large region carry through a referendum and secede from Ukraine de facto. I personally can't accept this," he said.