Russia says unaware of Yanukovych whereabouts

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Wednesday he had no information on the whereabouts of Ukraine's fugitive leader following reports he had fled to Moscow.

Local business channel RBK-TV had reported that Viktor Yanukovych arrived in Moscow in the early hours of Tuesday, staying at the luxury Ukraina hotel.

On Wednesday, Mr Yanukovych, a staunch Kremlin ally, went to a health resort in Barvikha near Moscow, the RBK report said.

The channel cited an unnamed "major Russian businessman" as its source and said the information had been confirmed by a "high-ranking Russian official."

But Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency: "I do not have any such information."

Russian lawmaker Mikhail Marguelov said he was certain Mr Yanukovych was outside Russia. "I know definitely that Yanukovych is not in Russia and in my opinion, Russia should not give him asylum,"

Mr Marguelov, who heads a parliamentary committee on international affairs, told TV channel Russia Today.

Ukrainian prosecutors also said Wednesday that they had information indicating Yanukovych was still in Ukraine as authorities continue the hunt for him.

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