Possession is 9/10 of the law

Bohuslav Sobotka was unable to explain convincingly yesterday why the CR had stopped recognizing Viktor Yanukovich as president of Ukraine. Like the politicians in Kiev themselves, Sobotka is working under the assumption that Yanukovich lost his legitimacy at some point and could therefore be removed by means that were not entirely democratic. Two wrongs make a right, is one way to look at it, or perhaps the better adage is "possession is nine-tenths of the law." The opposition is now in charge of the Ukrainian Parliament, so it possesses the power to decide, regardless of whether its decisions are entirely constitutional. By fleeing, Yanukovich forfeited his possession of power, so he is out of luck. What about Vladimir Putin's march into Crimea? He's in possession of the peninsula, so doesn't he "own" it? Perhaps his big mistake was not having the people of Simferopol take a Maidan-like vote on the town square.