Interpol is studying a request from the Ukrainian authorities to issue an alert for the arrest of Viktor Yanukovych.

The Lyon-based organization said in a statement, posted on its website, that it received a request on March 5 to issue a "Red Notice" for Yanukovych, who has been accused by the new Ukrainian authorities of abuse of power and murder.

An Interpol specialist for judicial issues is currently assessing the request to see if it is in line with the organization's rules, it said.

According to the statement, all of Interpol's 190 member countries have been informed of the continuing assessment, and their access to the Ukrainian request has been blocked pending the completion of this procedure.

"No further comment will be made by the Interpol General Secretariat until this review is complete and member countries have been informed of Interpol's decision," according to the statement.