| 1 | MOSCOW (AP) " Ukraine's former prime minister, in exile in Moscow, has announced the creation of a 'Ukraine salvation committee' and pushed for early presidential and parliamentary elections. |
| 2 | Mykola Azarov fled Ukraine after ex-president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014 following months of protests. |
| 3 | He said Monday that the committee aims to "take responsibility for the situation in the country." |
| 4 | The committee will not include Yanukovych. |
| 5 | Azarov has criticized Yanukovych for losing control over the country, and Azarov ally Igor Markov said the ex-president should be prosecuted for it. |
| 6 | Azarov said the committee will back ex-lawmaker Vladimir Oleinik as a presidential candidate if early elections are held. |
| 7 | Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Kremlin had nothing to do with Azarov's move. |