"Crimea is Russia" / kubnews.ru
There are no circumstances under which the Russian Federation could return Crimea back to Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin who made this statement during the interview with the Austrian journalists anticipating his official visit to Vienna, TASS informs. Russian President has reminded that the reason for Crimea’s independent status is not invasion of the Russian troops. The the Peninsula’s population voted for the Crimea’s re-unification with Russia at the Referendum.
Putin explained that during the state turnover in Kiev, the Russian troops stayed in Crimea legally – in accordance with the state agreement, there was the Navy base of the Russian Federation. The Head of State has underlined that at this Russian military did not interfere with the conflict. The Crimean population protected itself because people did not feel safe.
Russian leader has reminded that the Crimean Republic’s Parliament initiated actions for an independent status of the Republic. Such actions do not contradict the UN Charter, just the other way round, the Charter of the United Nations stipulates the right of nations for self-determination.
The Crimean Parliament members voted for holding a referendum. The Crimean Parliament, in its turn, was elected in full accordance with the Ukrainian legislation. So, nothing illegal happened, Vladimir Putin said.
Russian President has added that the Referendum should not be called annexation. He compared the situation in Crimea with Kosovo’s conflict. Putin has reminded that Kosovo split from Serbia without any referendums, just following the parliamentary decision which is believed to be self-determination of the people, whereas re-unification with Russia was supported by almost 90% of the Crimean population. “If this is not democracy, what is democracy?” Vladimir Putin asked a rhetorical question.
Russkiy Mir
