MOSCOW. Feb 4 (Interfax) - Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov refrained from criticizing former President Viktor Yanukovych for fleeing the country amid the protests on Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) in Kyiv at the end of 2013 and in early 2014.
"I wouldn't like to be a judge anyone, including Yanukovych. When he is criticized for fleeing the country, Western media outlets have even promoted the idea that, once he left, nothing else could have been done but a coup. The agreement [between the former Ukrainian leadership and the Maidan leaders signed on February 21 through the mediation of the German, French, and Polish foreign ministers] provided guarantees to Yanukovych - this will go down in history as an illustrative example of deception," Azarov said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
"When he first flew to Kharkiv and then to Crimea… I can't judge him. Each of us should put ourselves in his place and say how we would act," he said.
Azarov said his relations with Yanukovych had been growing increasingly tense before the Maidan events. "He started promoting his people. As the trends were bad, the only way that could have been implemented in Ukraine was a very serious economic modernization program. And he seemingly supported me, but the actual people who were put beside me… We had serious clashes," Azarov said.
Azarov said he intended to return to Ukraine, but only after the regime in the country is changed.
"Certainly, I won't return as long as this regime in Ukraine remains in power. But I am deeply convinced that this can't last long. Someone said you can't sit on bayonets all the time. I want to return to Ukraine, this is my country. I will return to Ukraine," Azarov said.
"I don't care now in what capacity. If there is a chance for me to use my powers to bring the country out of the crisis and for its development, I have enough knowledge, experience, and energy to implement this," Azarov said.