MOSCOW, March 23 (Sputnik) — The Ukrainian Party of Regions has confirmed Monday reports of the death of ex-president Viktor Yanukovych's son on Siberia’s Lake Baikal.
“All who knew Viktor Yanukovych junior speak of him with exceptional warmth and sympathy. He loved speed and extreme sports, and was until the very end ready to defend his civil position and the ideals close to his heart… We sincerely condole with the parents of Viktor Yanukovych [junior], his widow Olga and son Ilya,” the party said in a statement.
Sources said Yanukovych junior, 33, was one of six individuals in a Volkswagen minibus that was participating in a sports event on Lake Baikal.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed that a minibus did fall through the ice, but did not name Yanukovych as one of the passengers.
According to the ministry, five passengers were rescued, while the minibus driver died. The ministry said that all the individuals were identified, but declined to disclose the names.
The Ukrainian "1+1" TV channel reported citing its own sources, that Viktor Yanukovych junior, would allegedly be buried in Crimea on Monday.
The Ukrainian ex-president has reportedly had a heart attack when he had heard the news about his son.
