Former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has condemned Russia for its support of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, during a visit to Kiev's Independence Square.
Khodorkovsky, a long-time opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Sunday that the Russian government had encouraged Yanukovych to crush the Maidan anti-government protesters with force.
Addressing a large crowd at Independence Square — the center of opposition protests against Yanukovych — Khodorkovsky said: "I have been shown what the authorities did here. They did this in agreement with the Russian authorities — more than 100 dead, more than 5,000 wounded," Reuters reported.
Khodorkovsky also dismissed attempts by the Russian government and state media to characterize the protesters as fascist radicals bent on violence.
"Russian propaganda lies, as always. There are no fascists or Nazis here, no more than on the streets of Moscow or St. Petersburg," he said, adding that "these are wonderful people who stood up for their freedom."
The Ukrainians who had gathered to hear Khodorkovsky's remarks were receptive to his message, and chanted back at him with cries of "Russia rise up!" and "Thank you!"
Khodorkovsky is scheduled to deliver a lecture to Ukrainian university students on Monday.
Khodorkovsky, released from jail under amnesty in December, has tried to position himself as a peacemaker in Ukraine, saying in a statement on his website that he was ready "at any time to come to any destination in Ukraine at the invitation of a responsible social force to help prevent bloodshed."
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