Russia denies involvement in Ukraine's domestic affairs

MOSCOW - Moscow is not interested in getting involved in Ukraine's domestic affairs, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"We don't interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs; this contradicts our interests," Lavrov told reporters following his talks with visiting Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti.

He said there were no agents of Russian special services in Ukraine.

Commenting on reports that the United States, the European Union and Ukraine were going to present some evidence about Russia's alleged involvement in the situation in Ukraine during an upcoming meeting scheduled for Thursday, Lavrov said those evidence could be "quasi-facts."

Lavrov said that those who encourage Ukrainian authorities to use force to suppress protests in the country's eastern regions should be held to account for the consequences.

On Sunday, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, warned that anyone who continues to support the takeover of government buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities would be held responsible for their actions.

Turchynov warned that "terrorists" would be subject to a military anti-terrorism operation if they do not comply by Monday morning.

Lavrov said that Russia has been waiting for explanations of the purpose of the reported snap visit to Kiev by CIA Director John Brennan.

Brennan recently visited Kiev and had several meetings with representatives of Ukraine's power-wielding agencies, Russian media reported.

"So far we have not received those explanations," Lavrov added.

A new wave of unrest has erupted in Ukraine's east over the weekend, when pro-Russia activists seized several government buildings in the cities of Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov, demanding a referendum on autonomy and closer ties with Russia.