Standoff in Crimea was a "natural reaction" to the "bandit like" takeover of power by the new authorities in Ukraine

Kiev: Deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday said that the standoff in Crimea was a "natural reaction" to the "bandit like" takeover of power by the new authorities in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference in Russia, he said he still saw himself as the Ukrainian President and as such believed that Crimea must remain part of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Swiss authorities said on Friday that they have launched a criminal probe into alleged money laundering by ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and his son. The government also announced it was freezing the assets of 20 other Ukranian officials.