09:36
7.3.2014
From the wires:
The heads of Russia's parliamentary chambers have expressed support for a drive by Crimea's pro-Moscow authorities toward leaving Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation. Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of the State Duma, said the lower house will respect the Crimeans' "historic choice." Valentina Matviyenko, the head of the upper chamber -- the Federation Council -- said the Crimean parliament has the "right" to hold a plebiscite on the region's future status and said the council will "support" unification with Russia. Both Naryshkin and Matviyenko were speaking after meetings with a delegation led by Volodymyr Konstantynov, the speaker of Crimea's legislative body. The Crimean parliament on Thursday voted in favor of the region becoming part of Russia and scheduled a referendum for March 16. The move came after Russian forces occupied key positions in Crimea, which hosts Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
09:39
7.3.2014
Crimea's parliament speaker speaking in Russia's Federation Council upper house:
Konstantinov: We'll do everything possible for Ukrainian army to leave bases peacefully if they dont want to recognize new powers
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) March 7, 2014
09:48
7.3.2014
United Russia Duma Deputy Yevgeny Fedorov is preparing the new law on criminal charges against those heads and editors of the media who "allow to publish false anti-Russian information, give informational support to the extremist and separatist forces of anti-Russian character, including covering the events outside Russia".
A new amendment to the Criminal Code that makes anti-Russian publications a state crime will be added to Chapter 10, "Crimes against the state power," that also includes articles on espionage, state treason, revolt and Article 282 -- inciting hatred.
A new amendment to the Criminal Code that makes anti-Russian publications a state crime will be added to Chapter 10, "Crimes against the state power," that also includes articles on espionage, state treason, revolt and Article 282 -- inciting hatred.
10:04
7.3.2014
A sound bite from Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin, meeting today in Moscow with representatives of the parliament of Crimea:
"We realize that this decision was made as a result of the acute political crisis that is taking place in Ukraine, and it is connected with the effort to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens, simply to protect human lives."
And here is something from Valentina Matviyenko, head of the Federation Council:
"Without a doubt, the Crimean parliament, as a legitimate authority, has that right. No one has abolished the sovereign right of the people to self-determination."
"The decision of the parliament of Autonomous Republic of Crimea on holding a referendum is an internationally recognized practice. It is enough to look at the Scotland's experience that has scheduled a referendum on its independence in September [2014], and there are many other examples. The Crimean parliament has chosen the most democratic form -- holding a referendum as the highest form of expressing the people's free will."
"If the people of Crimea make the decision in the referendum to join Russia, we, as the upper house of the parliament, will unconditionally support such a decision."
"We realize that this decision was made as a result of the acute political crisis that is taking place in Ukraine, and it is connected with the effort to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens, simply to protect human lives."
And here is something from Valentina Matviyenko, head of the Federation Council:
"Without a doubt, the Crimean parliament, as a legitimate authority, has that right. No one has abolished the sovereign right of the people to self-determination."
"The decision of the parliament of Autonomous Republic of Crimea on holding a referendum is an internationally recognized practice. It is enough to look at the Scotland's experience that has scheduled a referendum on its independence in September [2014], and there are many other examples. The Crimean parliament has chosen the most democratic form -- holding a referendum as the highest form of expressing the people's free will."
"If the people of Crimea make the decision in the referendum to join Russia, we, as the upper house of the parliament, will unconditionally support such a decision."
10:11
7.3.2014
"The Moscow Times" reports that a lone protester, a 75-year-old survivor of the Nazi blockade of Leningrad has been detained at an antiwar rally in St. Petersburg. Igor Andreyev was holding a sign reading "Peace To The World" in protest against the use of Russian military force in Crimea. Controversial St. Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Mironov reportedly personally pulled the sign from Andreyev's hands and accused him of "supporting fascism."
10:13
7.3.2014
Poles protest against Russian actions in Crimea outside a LukOil gas station:
10:14
7.3.2014
10:16
7.3.2014
There have been many joke ballots for the scheduled Crimean referendum going around the last couple of days. This one appears to be the real deal:
10:23
7.3.2014
In case you missed it, here is RFE/RL's story from yesterday about how Russia's Duma and Crimean lawmakers are working in tandem to push ahead with annexation.
10:26
7.3.2014
Here are the questions from the released ballot form for the scheduled Crimean referendum. There are two questions, each presented in Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar.
The first question reads: Do you support the unification of Crimea with Russia in the status of a subject of the Russian Federation?
The second question reads: Do you support the reinstatement of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea from 1992 and are you for the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?
The instructions state that voters must choose one of the two variants. Ballots that have both boxes marked or neither box marked will be considered invalid.
The first question reads: Do you support the unification of Crimea with Russia in the status of a subject of the Russian Federation?
The second question reads: Do you support the reinstatement of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea from 1992 and are you for the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?
The instructions state that voters must choose one of the two variants. Ballots that have both boxes marked or neither box marked will be considered invalid.