Ukrainian fugitive Prime Minister wants to form a ‘government in exile’
The fugitive prime minister of Ukraine, Mykola Azarov, intends to submit a lawsuit to international courts to recognize the Ukrainian revolution of 2014 (Revolution of Dignity) as a coup. He also hopes to become a prime minister of Ukraine forming a so-called “government in exile”. This was stated by Azarov in his interview with Russia’s Izvestia daily.
Azarov fled Ukraine in 2014 following the Ukrainian evolution of Dignity of 2014. In 2015, he created a so-called “Rescue Ukraine Committee. A member of the committee, the former Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Vladimir Oleynik, who currently lives in Moscow, filed a claim with the Dorogomilovsky Court of Moscow to recognize the events which took place in February 2014, as a coup d’état. According to his claim, the dismissal of Viktor Yanukovych from the office of the President of Ukraine and the early presidential elections in May 2014 were both illegal.
Following Oleynik’s claim, on the 27th of December 2016, the Dorogomilovsky Court of Moscow recognized the events of February 2014 in Ukraine as a coup.
“The court case was accepted so that the former Ukrainian officials, the so-called political immigrants, could use this case for future appeals different European legislative bodies, in particular to the European Court of Human Rights. It can be also used for economic disputes and disputes over Interpol wanted warrants for the former Yanukovych’s officials, “ said the Director of the Research Center for Civil Society Problems, Vitaly Kulik.
After the Moscow court decision, Azarov intends to appeal to the European courts so that they recognize the Ukrainian revolution of dignity as a coup.
“We will definitely take further actions. At the moment we want to appeal to the international courts and use the same evidence that was provided to the Moscow court. There are the accounts of witnesses and numerous documents. We hope that Ukrainian courts, even though they initially refused our claims, will have to accepts this court case as a result of the overwhelming evidence,” stated Azarov
Azarov believes that the formation of the “Ukrainian government in exile” is feasible if there are necessary conditions in the country.
“First of all, these preconditions have to emerge in Ukraine. When the leading elite is unable to fulfill its duties, and when the people start demanding a different leadership, then such conditions will arise,” he added.
Ukrainian officials and social media personalities responded to Azarov’s plans to create “the government in exile”.
The Advisor to Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, Zorian Shkiriak, wrote on his Facebook page, “The government in exile” – this is a new “gem” by the Yanukovych’s comrades. It can only bring an ironic smile”.
The popular blogger, Vladimir Losev, on the other hand, sees an “interesting game combination” on the part of Kremlin that may involve Azarov’s plans. Losev believes that the Kremlin can recognize the current president of Ukraine as illegitimate while, on the other hand, recognizing fugitives Azarov and Yanukovych as the leaders of Ukraine. This will allow the Kremlin to continue with its project of “Novorossiya” (new Russia).