Crimea parliament declares independence after vote

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) - Crimea's parliament on Monday declared the region an independent state, after its residents voted overwhelmingly to break off from Ukraine and seek to join Russia.

In the same resolution, it said that all Ukrainian state property on the territory of the Black Sea peninsula will be nationalized and become the property of the Crimean Republic.

Sunday's referendum is not recognized by the West, and the United States and the European Union are preparing sanctions against Russia, whose troops have been occupying Crimea for several weeks.

Crimean lawmakers have asked the United Nations and other nations to recognize it.

A delegation of Crimean lawmakers is set to travel to Moscow Monday for negotiations on how to proceed further. Russian lawmakers have suggested that formally annexing Crimea is just a matter of time.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140317/DACJC1J82.html

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Pro-Russian people celebrate in the central square in Sevastopol, Ukraine, late Sunday, March 16, 2014. Russian flags fluttered above jubilant crowds Sunday after residents in Crimea voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The United States and Europe condemned the ballot as illegal and destabilizing and were expected to slap sanctions against Russia for it.(AP Photo/Andrew Lubimov)

[Scootaloo]

1. That referendum was a joke

it had two options - "Independence" or "join with Russia" - there was no "remain with Ukraine" option. With the numbers received, such an option may not have succeeded, even with the "breakaway" votes being split between two options as they were. But since it was not included, the whole thing was simply farce.

[bongiver]

2. Jokes

But our unverifiable electronic voting machine elections are not a joke. @@

[JVS]

3. It's part of a joke telling contest.

Maidan: We're now a government
Krimea: Well, we're now independent

[Bodhi BloodWave]

4. wasn't the choice between

join with Russia or stick with ukraine but with an older constitution(that granted them more autonomy)?

Besides, looking at the referendum in Crimea as well as the 'interim government' in Ukraine, i trust the result of the referendum a lot more.

[Catherina]

5. That's because they were never an integrated part of Ukraine

Choices

1. Are you in favor of the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a part of the Russian Federation?

2. Are you in favor of restoring the 1992 Constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?

The status quo was never part of Ukraine's constitution. The 1992 Constitution was quickly abolished by the Ukrainian government against the will of the Ukrainian people. Why should they vote on something they've been consistently, vehemently clear about not wanting? They've always been the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Crimea's been fighting their takeover by Ukraine since the beginning. Here's a great book if you like this sort of stuff: http://books.google.com/books?id=EPP3ti4hysUC&pg=PA513&lpg=PA513&ots=prpKdjOtU_&dq=Autonomous+Republic+of+Crimea+1992&redir_esc=y

Here's the ballot just for the record

[Catherina]

6. Putin signs order to recognize Crimea as a sovereign independent state

Putin signs order to recognize Crimea as a sovereign independent state

Published time: March 17, 2014 18:21

President Vladimir Putin has signed an order that Russia recognizes Crimea as a sovereign and independent state. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea held a referendum on Sunday with over 96% voting for integration into Russia.

“According to the will of the peoples of the Crimea on the all-Crimean referendum held on March 16, 2014, [I order] to recognize the Republic of Crimea, in which the city of Sevastopol has a special status, as a sovereign and independent state,” the document reads.

The order comes into force immediately.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

http://rt.com/news/russia-recognize-crimea-independence-410/