MOSCOW, December 4 /TASS/. All talk about human rights is hypocritical if it is used to cover a state coup in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual state of the nation address to the Russian Federal Assembly on Thursday.

He said that Russia had condemned the state coup staged in Kiev in February this year when power was seized by force.

“What we currently see in Ukraine, the tragedy of its south-eastern regions fully confirms that our stance is right,” Putin said adding that a decision by President Viktor Yanukovich to finalize the Association Agreement with the European Union was made in full compliance with the constitutional powers of a legitimate and internationally recognized head of state.

“In this context, is it possible to support an armed seizure of power, violence and murders? How can one support that under the cover of protecting international law and human rights?” This is pure cynicism,” Putin said.