SIMFEROPOL, February 27, (ITAR-TASS). Sergei Aksyonov, Crimea’s newly-appointed prime minister, told journalists on Thursday that he considered Viktor Yanukovich to be Ukraine’s legitimate president.

“We consider Viktor Yanukovich to be a legitimate president and will continue following his instructions,” Aksyonov said.

The Crimean parliament voted for appointing Aksyonov as prime minister earlier on Thursday. He replaced Anatoly Mogilyov in the post.