Kiev, Jan 12 (IANS): The International Police Organization (Interpol) has issued red notice arrest warrants for ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and his close allies, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Monday.

Besides Yanukovych, former prime minister Mykola Azarov, health minister Raisa Bogatyrova and finance minister Yuri Kolobov have all been placed on Interpol's wanted list, Avakov wrote on his official Facebook page, Xinhua news agency reported.

In March 2014, Ukraine asked Interpol to issue arrest warrants for the dismissed president and several former top officials for their alleged involvement in "mass murder of civilians" during anti-government protests.

Yanukovych was ousted last February following the deaths of more than 100 people during street demonstrations, which began in November 2013 to back the country's European integration, and which turned violent three month later.

Under its red notice mechanism, Interpol requests its member countries to seek the whereabouts of wanted individuals and prepare their extradition to the state that has issued warrants for the arrests.