Local Ukrainians Discuss Heartbreaking Situation In Their Homeland
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Ukraine's ousted president is now a wanted man. There's a warrant out for the arrest of President Viktor Yanukovych, who is hiding out. He's wanted for mass murder following more than a hundred deaths during months of violent protests. The country's Parliament has voted to temporarily hand the president's powers to its Speaker, an opposition leader.
Jessica Kartalija spoke to local Ukrainians, who say they haven't seen a situation this bad in Europe since the siege of Sarajevo.
Video footage from Ukraine's capital shows police snipers targeting demonstrators. Some protesters fought back with weapons; others used rocks and homemade firebombs.
"Young people were being picked off by snipers from tops of buildings," said Andrij Chornodolsky.
Chornodolsky is a senior spokesperson for the Ukrainian community in Baltimore.
Ukraine's ousted president Viktor Yanukovych is now facing a warrant for the mass killings of civilians. He hasn't been seen since Saturday.
"He is a footnote on history at this time. They will get him one way or another," said Chornodolsky.
Yanukovych's ouster and disappearance follows the deadliest violence in the country since its independence 22 years ago.
"The most important concern for all of us today is what Mr. Putin will do," Chornodolsky said. "He has the forces and the capability to move into Ukraine if he so chooses, which would be a terrible mistake."
Parliament has already named Speaker Oleksandr Turchinov to serve as interim president.
Chornodolsky says this is a good start.
"People who a week or two ago were at each other's throats are working in a cooperative manner, realizing that this is for the good of the country," he said.
The U.S. has expressed support for the action of Parliament and has asked Russia not to use military force in the country.
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