You're reading: Lawmaker: Yanukovych asks Russian parliament to help Crimea

Viktor Yanukovych has asked the Federation Council for extensive help to Crimea, Chairman of the Russian upper house's Committee on Constitutional Legislation Alexander Klishas said on Saturday.

Klishas said it was a sufficient reason for the Federation Council to support the appeal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to use Russian armed forces in Ukraine.

Yanukovych made his request in a letter where he advocated Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemned the group that had “seized power in Crimea by force,” Klishas said.