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Yanukovych's son says that he did not call Lukashenka

The family of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is seeking asylum in Belarus, prominent Ukrainian journalist Mustafa Nayyem writes on Facebook.

According to Mr. Nayyem, Mr. Yanukovich’s son, Viktor, discussed the issue in a telephone conversation with Alyaksandr Lukashenka last week. Viktor Yanukovich Jr. expressed fears that his father might become a “bargaining chip” in the political dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow and might be handed over to Ukrainian authorities as a result of a multilateral deal, he says.

In response, Mr. Lukashenka made it clear that he considered a return to Ukraine to be the right course of action for the former Ukrainian president. At the same time, he indicated readiness to give shelter to both him and his family, Mr. Nayyem says.

“What is especially interesting is that Yanukovich Jr. allegedly said during the conversation that if the situation developed favorably, Viktor Yanukovych might become the head of a new state, Novorossiya, which would include the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces,” he says.

Mr. Nayyem says that he has obtained this information from a sufficiently trustworthy source to be cited in the media.

While staying in Kyiv on June 7 to attend the inauguration of Petro Poroshenko as Ukraine’s new president, Mr. Lukashenka told reporters that Viktor Yanukovych had not asked him for asylum. “But if he comes, there’s a village where his parents were born and probably no one may strip him of the right to go there,” he said.

“But my advice to you is to take your president back to Ukraine,” Mr. Lukashenka added. “Let him stay in your country, no matter how bad he is. If something depends on me I will help. Step over everything and take him back to Ukraine.”

Mr. Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February, after months-long street protests against his decision to delay the signing of an association agreement with the European Union turned into a popular uprising with multiple casualties. He resurfaced in Russia a few days after leaving Ukraine.

In 2010, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was swept from power by rival political forces and took shelter in Belarus. The new Kyrgyz government has repeatedly demanded the extradition of Mr. Bakiyev and his family members, accusing them of sanctioning gunfire on a crowd of protesters that left more than 80 people dead. All extradition requests have been rejected, with Mr. Lukashenka making it clear that her would never send Mr. Bakiyev back to Kyrgyzstan.


Recording alleges that Lukashenka agreed to give refuge to Ukraine's ex-president in hoax call

A man impersonating Viktor Yanukovych's son made a prank telephone call to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, discussing the possibility of the deposed Ukrainian president moving to Belarus, according to Ukrainian media reports.

A recording of the alleged phone call was posted on the Internet on Monday.

Pretending to be Viktor Yanukovych Jr., the prankster inquired whether the former Ukrainian leader could move to Belarus "for some period if it is necessary."

Replying to the question, a man with a voice very similar to Mr. Lukashenka's said that Mr. Yanukovych was welcome in Belarus "at any time."

"You have probably missed my public statement that I made when reporters in Kyiv started questioning me about Yanukovych, whether I would grant him asylum and so on," he said. "I said: first, you know, he never asked me about it. Second, he is not a refugee and is not going to flee anywhere. Third, I told them not to forget that his roots are in Belarus and that his [native] village is there. That's why if he decides to return to his village for some period or for good, I will not dare oppose it."

The man described as Mr. Lukashenka said that he had no right to bar Mr. Yanukovych from moving to Belarus.

When the prankster said that the ex-president could be extradited to Ukraine and be punished without trial, the man replied that he was sure that Mr. Yanukovych was innocent and had nothing to do with the deaths of anti-government protesters in Kyiv earlier this year.

"Let them say thank you to him for not having twisted all of their necks… Yanukovych never ordered fire opened [at the protesters]. Had he opened fire, there would have been no one left after 10 shots. All of this is complete lies," he said.

"Let's do the following: tell Viktor Fyodorovich to watch TV and read newspapers less. Second, if he wants to come to Belarus he may do so at any time. Just notify me one day in advance… It's up to him to decide whether he can come with the family or alone."

The man referred to as Mr. Lukashenka said that he was ready to meet with Mr. Yanukovych in Belarus to discuss "issues relating to the present and the future."

When reached by BelaPAN for comment, Andrey Papow, head of the Belarusian leader's press office, said, "There is and will be no comment. Let those who distribute this information give comments to you."

Rumors that Mr. Yanukovych can find refuge in Belarus have circulated since he fled Ukraine this past February.


Yanukovych's son says that he did not call Lukashenka

Viktor Yanukovych's son confirmed on Monday that he had not called Alyaksandr Lukashenka to discuss the possibility of the former Ukrainian president moving to Belarus.

Writing on his Facebook page, Viktor Yanukovych Jr. said that Mr. Lukashenka appeared to have fallen victim to a prank call from a Russian prankster known as Vovan.

"I am a humble man, I don't suffer from megalomania, weave no government plots, carry out no coups d'etat for Ukraine's break-up and don't consider myself to be authorized to hold talks with the heads of other states," the businessman wrote.