Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has been holding a press conference today. Here is a quick translation of some of the things he's been saying (Translation by RFE/RL senior correspondent Merhat Sharipzhan):
On the Ukrainian Orthodox Church:
"It was absolutely wrong of the government, politicians, the president [of Ukraine] to interfere in issues of religion. The church has always been separated from the state and in the course of Ukraine's history, none of the presidents have allowed themselves to meddle in the church's affairs. Everything that happened to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was aimed not at decreasing tension, not to at ways to unite the nation, but at a split, discord, and hatred."
On the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine:
"We are now on the eve of the election of a new leader of the nation, which will be followed by parliamentary elections, and it is necessary to say here that [the current] authorities [of Ukraine] will do everything they can to use all their resources, including administrative leverage and various technologies, to allow them to falsify the elections' results, because without such falsifications President [Petro] Poroshenko will not be able [to win]."
On his recent conviction by a Ukrainian court for high treason:
"[My] verdict was written on the [Ukrainian} authorities' instructions and the pressure on the court was unprecedented. The verdict has nothing to do with the law. Everything [the case] was built up on lies and hatred. The mass shootings at the Maidan were organized by the Maidan's masterminds. There are materials from independent investigative journalists that are not linked with each other and they prove that."
On the probe against Viktor Medvechuk:
"We hear threats addressed against Viktor Medvedchuk. I personally can say that he has always had a position of his own, and he has always expressed it. When I was president I did not agree with his position very often, but I have never ordered anyone to shut his mouth or do something with him."
On an alleged "plot" against him:
"I heard that a special group of 12 people has been established, which is working [to kill me and other Ukrainian politicians]. I do not know if their target is just Viktor Medvedchuk or if I am also included. These kind of methods have nothing to do with democracy. I would like to address security service officers, military personnel here: do not follow criminal orders of the current authorities. The government will change and then what will you do?"
On what he thinks should happen after the next election:
"The first thing Ukraine's next government must do is to establish peace in Ukraine.... It will certainly not be so easy to do that in Donbas. It will take a longer time there. It will be necessary to respect patience and tolerance. Because the country has been split up and therefore it will be necessary to find ways and opportunities to reunite the country... However, the current government does not want to return peace to Ukraine."
On the Maidan:
"An independent group must be established to investigate the crimes on the Maidan. I call on the countries that mediated the agreements between [Ukrainian] authorities and the opposition in 2014 to do so. If such a group had started investigations five years ago there would have been no catastrophe. Most likely there would not have been a war in Donbas and the situation in Crimea would have been different. The country would not have been run by the people directly linked to the crimes and the horrific provocation, such as shooting at people on the Maidan."
Here is today's map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. (CLICK TO ENLARGE.)
Ukraine's foreign minister weighs in on the INF dispute: