MOSCOW (AFP) - Deposed Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych on Friday called for nationwide referendums to be held across the country to determine the future status of every Ukrainian region.

"As president who is with you in thought and soul, I ask every single sensible citizen of Ukraine not to let yourselves be used by the imposters!

"Demand a referendum on determining the status of every region in Ukraine," Mr Yanukovych said in a statement quoted by Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency.

The comments, his first in over two weeks, came after Crimea voted to become part of Russia in a referendum earlier this month and was then rapidly incorporated into Russian territory.