GENEVA (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Ukraine's new leaders of attacking minority rights and said that ultra-nationalists control many areas of the ex-Soviet country.

"The victors intend to make use of the fruits of their victory to attack human rights and fundamental freedoms... of minorities," Mr Lavrov told the opening of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, adding that "violence of ultra-nationalists threatens the lives and the regional interests of Russians and the Russian speaking population."