Unauthorised incursions by Russia’s military into Crimea (Ukrainian territory) have all the blessings of Russian President Vladimir Putin and are yet another sign of his authoritarian rule.

Tensions flared up over control of Crimea and the subsequent appearance of Viktor Yanukovych in southern Russia.

Yanukovych, the ousted dictator and friend of Putin, is now being shielded by Moscow. He has urged Putin to use all means at his disposal to reinstate him as President.

In the meantime, flights in and out of airports in Crimea were cancelled and all fixed line communications lost due to blatant interference by the Russians.

Movements by Russian troops based in Sevastopol have been going on since the beginning of anti-government demonstrations in Kiev and the eventual disappearance of Yanukovych.

Asked for his comments, the Ukrainian Interior Minister said: “It’s nothing but an armed invasion and occupation on the territory of a sovereign state.”

Accused of mass murder, Yanukovych appeared cool and relaxed when he faced the press last Saturday. He accused a bunch of fascist extremists of waging terror in Kiev to overthrow him.

He even had the guts to ask forgiveness from his fellow citizens for the deaths in the violence which erupted between protesters and security forces in Kiev, but claimed not to have ordered police to shoot. He accused the West of masterminding the demonstrations.

Although Putin is backing Yanukovych, Russian officials blame him for having fomented public discontent in Ukraine through scandals and corruption. Ukrainian people say he betrayed them and ought to be punished.

Elections should be held sooner rather than later to avoid the persistent chaos reigning in Kiev. When asked by reporters, a Ukrainian man admitted: “It seems whoever has a gun in his hand is in complete charge at the moment – this is not democracy!"