Ukraine president flees Kiev as protesters seize his compound

Feb 22, 2014

Ukraine president flees Kiev as protesters seize his compound

Tim Swift 0 Comment World Kiev, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich, Yulia Tymoshenko

Ukraine’s parliament voted on Saturday to remove President Viktor Yanukovich, who abandoned his Kiev office to protesters and denounced what he described as a coup after a week of fighting in the streets of the capital.
Parliament also freed his arch-nemesis, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who walked free from the hospital where she had been jailed, completing a radical transformation in the former Soviet republic of 46 million people.

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: Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko (left) hugs her daughter Yevgenia upon arrival at the airport in Kiev February 22, 2014. Tymoshenko was freed on Saturday from the hospital where she had been held under prison guard for most of the time since she was convicted in 2011. (Maks Levin/Reuters)

: Anti-government protesters stand guard in front of the parliament building in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament on February 22 voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25, passing a resolution stating that Viktor Yanukovych had failed to properly fulfil his duties as president. (Bulent Kilic/AFP Getty Images)

: Anti-government activists react after the vote of the Ukrainian Parliament as they rally outside the parliament building in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Bulent Kilic/AFP Getty Images)

: A flower is left on the burned floor next to a dismantled barricade in rememberance of the people killed during the clashes between anti-government activists and the Ukrainian police forces, in Kiev, on February 22, 2014, after a week of escalting violence. (Piero Quarant/AFP Getty Images)

: People light candles in Independence square following the announcement that Ukrainian President has been ousted on on February 22, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukrainian members of parliament have voted to oust Viktor Yanukovych and bring presidential elections forward to the 25th of May. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

: Anti-government protesters wait outside the parliament building in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament on February 22 voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25, passing a resolution stating that Viktor Yanukovych had failed to properly fulfil his duties as president. (Bulent Kilic/AFP Getty Images)

: People light candles in memory of people killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members in Kiev February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament voted on Saturday to remove President Viktor Yanukovich, who abandoned his Kiev office to protesters and denounced what he described as a coup after a week of fighting in the streets of the capital. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)

: People beat an alleged member of parliament (center) in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament on February 22 voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25, passing a resolution stating that Viktor Yanukovych had failed to properly fulfil his duties as president. (Bulent Kilic/AFP Getty Images)

: People cheer in front of the parliament building in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament on February 22 voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25, passing a resolution stating that Viktor Yanukovych had failed to properly fulfil his duties as president. (Bulent Kilic/AFP Getty Images)

: Thousands of people visited the main residence of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as anti-government activists took control of it in the outskirts of Kiev, on February 22, 2014. Ukraine’s parliament on February 22 voted to hold early presidential elections on May 25, passing a resolution stating that Viktor Yanukovych had failed to properly fulfil his duties as president. (Genya Savilov/AFP Getty Images)

: An anti-government activist stands guard at the main building of Ukrainian President’s residency near Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Genya Savilov/AFP Getty Images)

: Anti-government protesters react outside the Ukrainian Parliament as they wait for President Viktor Ianoukovytch’s resignation, in Kiev, on February 22, 2014. (Piero Quarant/AFP Getty Images)

: Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko (center) holds her associate Arseny Yatsenyuk’s hand (left) as she is transported on a wheelchair upon her arrival at the airport in Kiev February 22, 2014. (Andrew Kravchenko/Reuters)

: An alleged sniper (center) and member of the pro-government forces is beaten by anti-government protestors in Kiev on February 22, 2014. The regime of Ukraine’s president appeared close to collapse on February 22 as the emboldened opposition took control of central Kiev and key government and parliament positions and voted to immediately free its jailed leader Yulia Tymoshenko. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man (center) suspected of being a sniper and member of the pro-government forces is forced by anti-government protestors to pay his respects to a mourning place of a victim killed in the recent clashes in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

: Anti-government activists stand guard at the entrance of the Parliament in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP Getty Images)

: People express their joy in front of the main building of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s residency near Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Genya Savilov/AFP Getty Images)

: People express their joy in front of the main building of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s residency near Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Genya Savilov/AFP Getty Images)

: Anti-government protesters pose in front of the main building of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s residency near Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Genya Savilov/AFP Getty Images)

: People celebrate outside the Parliament in Kiev on February 22, 2014. A member of Ukraine’s parliament said on February 22 that President Viktor Yanukovych has promised to submit his resignation in response to violence that left nearly 100 dead in anti-government unrest. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: People carry a coffin during a funeral service for two anti-government protesters killed during the recent clashes on the Independence square in Kiev on February 22, 2014. A member of Ukraine’s parliament said on February 22 that President Viktor Yanukovych has promised to submit his resignation in response to violence that left nearly 100 dead in anti-government unrest. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: Anti-government protesters celebrate in central in Kiev on February 22, 2014. The regime of Ukraine’s president appeared close to collapse on February 22 as the emboldened opposition took control of central Kiev and key government and parliament positions and voted to immediately free its jailed leader Yulia Tymoshenko. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: Members of Berkut anti-riot unit embark in a bus as leave their barracks in Kiev February 22, 2014. The heads of four Ukrainian security bodies, including the police’s Berkut anti-riot units, appeared in parliament on Saturday and declared they would not take part in any conflict with the people. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)

: People cheer as anti-government protesters arrive outside the Parliament in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on February 22 he would not sign any of the new laws passed by parliament, which included a measure to release the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: An effigy of an anti-government protester stands at a barricade near Kiev’s Independence square February 22, 2014. The heads of four Ukrainian security bodies, including the police’s Berkut anti-riot units, appeared in parliament on Saturday and declared they would not take part in any conflict with the people. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)

: Anti-government protesters ride on a military truck in Kiev on February 22, 2014. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on February 22 he would not sign any of the new laws passed by parliament, which included a measure to release the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: A handout tv grab provided by the Presidential Press Service shows Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych speaking to the local TV in Kharkiv on February 22, 2014.

: People gather outside the parliament in Kiev on February 22, 2014. A member of Ukraine’s parliament said on February 22 that President Viktor Yanukovych has promised to submit his resignation in response to violence that left nearly 100 dead in anti-government unrest. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: Anti-government protesters stand guard next to a police water cannon on the Independence square in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: People pay their respects to two anti-government protesters killed during the recent clashes during a funeral service on the Independence square in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: People carry a coffin during a funeral service for two anti-government protesters killed during the recent clashes on the Independence square in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

: People attend a funeral service for two anti-government protesters killed during the recent clashes on the Independence square in Kiev on February 22, 2014. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images)

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