18:20
15.3.2014
Saturday night in Simferopol, Crimea https://t.co/TROoYtW3pd
— Javier Pascual (@javierpascual) March 15, 2014
18:21
15.3.2014
More from Roland Oliphant of "The Telegraph" on storming of the Moscow hotel in Simferopol:
Seem to be under house arrests. Some texts from people upstairs say they've been told to stay in rooms. Not sure what floor they're on.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 15, 2014
18:50
15.3.2014
Barring any major developments, this wraps up our live blogging for March 15. We'll leave you with this Facebook post from former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul:
Post by Michael McFaul.
08:15
16.3.2014
RFE/RL Ukrainian Service video of a polling station in Crimea opening for the disputed referendum.
08:23
16.3.2014
Agency reports say Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on the eve of the vote that Russia considers the referendum in Crimea to be "fully in line with international law."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov, in a telephone call with Kerry, also said Ukrainian authorities should curb what the statement described as "the rampant ultranationalist and radical groups that are terrorizing dissidents and Russian-speaking people" in Ukraine.
The phone call came as Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution declaring the referendum invalid. Thirteen council members voted in favor, while Moscow ally China abstained.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov, in a telephone call with Kerry, also said Ukrainian authorities should curb what the statement described as "the rampant ultranationalist and radical groups that are terrorizing dissidents and Russian-speaking people" in Ukraine.
The phone call came as Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution declaring the referendum invalid. Thirteen council members voted in favor, while Moscow ally China abstained.
08:32
16.3.2014
A priest in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church detained in Sevastopol and reportedly accused of "provocation" has been released, according to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The church has reported multiple oral and written threats against its priests and warnings that they should leave Crimea, the report says.
The church has reported multiple oral and written threats against its priests and warnings that they should leave Crimea, the report says.
Затриманого в церкві кримського священика відпустили – УГКЦ http://t.co/0hC3L55bOW
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 15, 2014
08:39
16.3.2014
Russian broadcaster RT states disingenuously:
Some 10,000 members of the Crimean military recently formed from self-defense squads, and over 5,000 police officers are ensuring the referendum goes smoothly.
08:41
16.3.2014
Boxes on these ballots all have option No. 1 checked - to join Russia. RT @EvgenyFeldman: галочки pic.twitter.com/zkn6MCdb70 #Crimea
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 16, 2014
08:45
16.3.2014
Wonder which way he broke. :-)
Sergei Aksyonov has voted @rianru: Премьер-министр Крыма Сергей Аксенов на избирательном участке pic.twitter.com/DS3FZLBF0v”
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 16, 2014
08:49
16.3.2014
In Dnepropetrovsk, around 2,000 football fans rallied in support of "Crimea in Ukraine":
Ультрас Дніпра та Севастополя провели марш єдності на підтримку Криму http://t.co/WlEFtuo1LM pic.twitter.com/oTxxt6HWiy
— Газета День (@TheDayNewspaper) March 16, 2014