Putin admits Russia helped Yanukovych flee Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin Friday acknowledged for the first time that Russia had helped Ukraine's former pro-Moscow leader Viktor Yanukovych flee.

'I won't hide the fact that we helped him seek refuge in Crimea. At the time, Crimea was a part of Ukraine,' Mr. Putin told Russian and foreign experts at an annual event.

A candidate purporting to be Darth Vader campaigns in the streets of Ukraine, with the aim of creating an electronic government with free computer courses for all. Jillian Kitchener reports. Reuters

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A Ukrainian politician was man-handled and dumped in the trash on Tuesday, the victim of an angry mob outside parliament in Kiev. Rough Cut (no reporter narration) Reuters

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appealed to the U.S. Congress for support of his strategy in handling Russian-backed separatists. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Reuters

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'But as the events in Kiev evolved very fast and in a tumultuous manner,' it was not possible for Mr. Yanukovych to return to the capital, he said.

'I'm telling you frankly, Yanukovych asked to be brought to Russia and we did that,' he added.

Mr. Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February and he and his family have since been living in Russia.

An aide to the Ukrainian Interior Minister claimed Friday that Mr. Putin, through a secret decree, had granted Mr. Yanukovych and his allies Russian citizenship, but Moscow has not clearly responded to the allegation.

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