Putin will imprison any Crimeans who advocate secession from Russia.

[geek tragedy]

He signed a law to that effect late last year.

From an official Kremlin news source:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that would make spreading separatist views a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in jail.

Under the law, submitted to the Russian State Duma by the Communist Party earlier in December, people will face a fine of up to 300,000 rubles ($9,200) for calling for action aimed against Russia’s territorial integrity. It went into effect after Monday's publication in the official Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper.

Lawmakers said the legislation was an effort to curb increasing public support for the idea of relinquishing mainly Muslim territories in the restive North Caucasus.

http://themoscownews.com/politics/20131230/192136238/Putin-signs-law-criminalizing-calls-to-separatism.html

If anyone in Russia tries to do what the Crimean politicians did, including these same politicians, off to the gulag with them.

If anone in Russia SUGGESTS doing what Crimea did, off to the gulag with them.

Just in case anyone thought this was about self-determination rather than a land grab.

Or that Putin should be trusted.

[Anansi1171]

1. What a morally admirable and progressive hero!

Kudos to the great people of Russia for reclaiming their rightful inheritance as masters of Eurasia. Your conquering Russ ancestors would be proud I say!

And it didnt even take a 9/11 style event, merely the collapse of your empire. Unlike Germany after WW2, you didnt even need reparations to convince your citizens that their National Pride has been aggrieved.

Clearly because of Napoleon and Hitler, you are entitled to all of Eastern Europe as strategic depth.

Sarcasm to be sure, but hes fed the beast now and will take all of Eastern Ukraine, I believed.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. Putin: "Independence from thee, but not from me!" nt

[NuclearDem]

3. Democracy, Putin style.

You can have any choice you want, as long as it's me.

[geek tragedy]

4. Heads Putin wins, tails the coin goes to jail nt

[NuclearDem]

7. More like heads, Putin wins, tails, other guy loses.

And suggesting we get a different coin is a jail sentence.

[hrmjustin]

5. This just proves the man is a despicable person.

[William769]

6. Sounds just like the motherland.

Only that muther beats her kids.

[LordGlenconner]

8. Oh it's just good old fashioned tough love

And he's SO COOL riding on a horse.

And...and...the US does bad stuff too!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. Putintaur!!!!!

[awoke_in_2003]

9. See, Putin's actions

are totally innocent.

[jeff47]

10. But what does RT say about it?

There must be some RT story explaining how this is great and Ukrainians are dirty zombies controlled by satanic capitalists.

[ProSense]

11. Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'

Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024684903