ROSTOV-ON-DON. April 14 (Interfax) - The blood spilled in southeastern Ukraine has put the country on the verge of a civil war, Viktor Yanukovych told a press conference in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday.
He called on law enforcement officers not to fulfill criminal orders and not to open fire on civilians.
"I want to make a statement in connection with the events in the Donetsk region: blood was spilled today in the city of Slovyansk and our country found itself in a completely new situation - on the verge of a civil war. The Kyiv clique gave a criminal order to engage the regular army [in operations] against the civilian population of Ukraine. I must say that we have never used these methods, even against the radicals and extremists, when we were in Kyiv," Yanukovych said.
The so-called incumbent Ukrainian authorities will be held liable for their decisions sooner or later, Yanukovych said.
"Let me tell you right away that you will be held criminally liable. First and foremost, Avakov, Nalyvaichenko and the officers of the Ukrainian Security Service and the Interior Ministry who are fulfilling these criminal orders. As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I urge servicemen and officers of the Ukrainian Security Services and the Interior Ministry: do not fulfill the criminal orders, do not fire on Ukrainian people. People will never forgive you," Yanukovych continued.
The use of force in eastern Ukraine started after a meeting of Ukrainian interim President Oleksandr Turchynov, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and Ukrainian Security Service chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko with the CIA director.
"According to the information from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and other bodies, CIA Director [John] Brennan had visited Kyiv. He met with the illegally appointed law enforcement chiefs, among them Avakov, Nalyvaichenko and Yarema, and so-called interim President Turchynov. A decision to start the military operation in eastern Ukraine was made precisely after that meeting," Yanukovych said.
"Mr. Brennan actually authorized the use of arms and provoked bloodshed in eastern Ukraine. Therefore, the United States shares responsibility for unleashing a civil war in Ukraine. The United States is using its diplomatic capacities and security services not just for interfering in the ongoing processes but also for giving instructions as to what must be done and how," Yanukovych added.
An urgent referendum is the only way to avert a civil war in Ukraine, Yanukovych stated.
"There is an urgent need for a referendum which will pacify the country, stop the civil war and save Ukraine from a split. This is the only possible solution. After that a new constitution should be adopted and the parliamentary and presidential elections should be held, precisely in this order. This is a lawful and fair demand of the Ukrainian people who are seeking protection from the outrage, lawlessness and humiliation," he said.
By calling one part of Ukraine the separatists and the other "insignificant" part the revolutionaries, the Kyiv authorities deliberately drive a wedge in Ukrainian society and instigate further disintegration, Yanukovych said.
A source from the Verkhovna Rada told Interfax on the phone earlier that CIA Director John Brennan visited Kyiv the day before for a series of meetings with the chiefs of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.
"As far as we know, the CIA director visited the Ukrainian capital city under a false name," the source said.
In his words, "the American visitor held a series of meetings with the national administration and consultations with the chiefs of law enforcement agencies."
"According to the hitherto unconfirmed reports, a decision to start the military operation in southeastern Ukraine [Slovyansk] was made at his suggestion," the source said.
Interfax has not obtained a confirmation of this report from official sources.