Yanukovich failed to appear in public last Friday, sending an open letter to the Ukrainians instead calling for regional referenda.
Some time between his first and second press-conferences in exile, there were reports of his death, then speculation that his double appeared at the second TV event – a predictable foray into March-hare territory followed by a retreat, that is a rumor that he had undergone cardiac stenting and was recovering. Last Thursday, there were “reports” that Yanukovich had flown from his new $54-mln residence near Moscow to Roston-on-Don – but he only sent that letter.
I’m surprised that Yanukovich still figures in Russia’s vision of Ukraine’s future at all. Maybe it shows what limited options Putin has as far as a viable puppet goes.
“Don’t be a doormat,” was Medvedev’s advice to Yanukovich in February.