The line of automobiles starts more
than a mile away. as thousands of Ukrainians pour into the neighborhood of
Mezhyhirya, about 10 miles from the center of Kiev. They are on a pilgrimage to
see the palace of former President Viktor Yanukovych, a man on the run. "Palace,"
it turns out, is an understatement. The massive estate is estimated at 340
square acres, with a main home, a guest house, an enclosed garage the size of
an urban parking deck, a spa, a meeting hall, a zoo, a golf course, a ballroom
(still under construction) and a galleon on the Dnieper River. Nearly every
interior surface of the palace is stamped with gilding. Inlaid floors, marble
mantels, and phalanxes of statues adorn the rooms. A white baby grand Steinway
stands at the ready in a yawning entertainment hall with 20-foot ceilings and
winking chandeliers. A coat closet bigger than many New York apartments still
holds clothing—a half dozen men's dress coats in a palette of hues, many woven
of fine cashmere. More casual coats bear labels by well-known European
designers such as Loro Piana and Bruno Cucinelli. Guarding the house is a
volunteer militia—young men in their teens and 20s—sporting patchwork uniforms.
They appear to have successfully protected it from looters, as the interior is
in relatively undisturbed condition.
Ukrainians aren't allowed into the
main house, but the young militia give tours to journalists, including a group
from CNBC. "He thought he was the king," one of the guards, Alexey
Tolovid, 21, said of Yanukovych. "But then, it all came to an end."
CNBC's
chief international correspondent, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, tours the palace of
ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. You may attend it by clicking at
Soon you will get an opportunity to visit an "ordinary restroom" in this palace!
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