YANUKOVYCH GOES ON VACATION and swaps the 'traitor' Tihipko for Chornovil. Now he can't be dismissed as prime minister

Yanukovych himself stated this on the air of the "NTN" and "Ukraina" TV channels on Monday evening.

"All efforts must be devoted to confirming my victory in the elections. Therefore, in the current conditions, I have decided to go on vacation to conduct my pre-election campaign," said Yanukovych.

"The only thing I ask of the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and the people's deputies is: let this government team work until the end of the elections," said the candidate.

Yanukovych emphasized that he is going into the elections because millions of Ukrainian people voted for him. Any other decision would be unfair to my voters. "In the region where I grew up, cowardice and betrayal are considered the greatest sin," he emphasized.

Yanukovych condemned the Supreme Court's decision, calling it one that contradicts the law.

However, he noted at the same time that "only voting for a candidate who has legitimacy based on the results of the constitutional vote can return the country to a constitutional course and provide an opportunity to emerge from the crisis."

"My opponents use propaganda clichés: the Kuchma-Yanukovych regime. I will tell you how it was. I wanted to create for all of Ukraine the same economic miracle that existed in recent years in Donbas, when I worked as head of the administration. Therefore, I had to make political compromises and restrain my emotions as much as possible," stated Yanukovych.

According to him, this was "not appeasement" and "not populism." "Because in this situation, my own positions suffered the most. But it was for the benefit of all of Ukraine," he said.

"Therefore, such an agreement between new and old politicians was justified. Despite all the downsides personally for me. I understand this well. Today I understand well that a strong and prosperous Ukraine demands from me a fully open policy," stated Yanukovych.

"Today I can openly say that in the country, after all, during these 2 years there existed two authorities: the new and the old. So the citizens should draw their own conclusions: is Yanukovych a new candidate of the new authority or the old one. And Yushchenko, I am convinced, is an attempt at revenge by the old authority!" he added.

According to him, he "honestly tried to keep his word to the end," and until the end he hoped for the decency of his partners.

"But this does not mean at all that everyone who tried to be in the same frame with me are my allies. Sometimes it came to outright provocations. And although throughout the entire campaign I felt internal opposition, despite this we won," he stated.

"My team has been cleansed of cowards and accidental people, and thank God," emphasized Yanukovych.

He stated that he would build his headquarters exclusively on "staunch supporters." And he announced that Taras Chornovil has become the new head of his headquarters.

Yanukovych accused his opponents of scaring the country with a split. "There is no split, thank God, and there will not be! As they say, don't even hope for it!" stated the prime minister on vacation.

At the same time, he acknowledged the existence of "blackmail" with a split, but blamed not the eastern governors for it, but Yushchenko's supporters.

"The question of the so-called autonomy of the southeast or Novorossiya is merely an emotional reaction of people in Donetsk and Crimea, Kharkiv and Odesa to the real threat of a split, which is the strategy (of the opponents). The greatest threat of a split of the country was after November 22, within the walls of the Verkhovna Rada, in a number of western regions and on the streets of Kyiv," he noted.

He also stated that he was against the miners coming to Kyiv and the use of force. "Perhaps someone perceived my position as a lack of will to win, but I will prove on December 26 that I have not only the will, but also the support of the majority of the people of Ukraine," stated Yanukovych.

By going on vacation, Prime Minister Yanukovych made his resignation impossible.

According to the Code of Labor Laws of Ukraine, "the dismissal of an employee during the period of his temporary incapacity for work, as well as during the period when the employee is on vacation, is not permitted."