Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea Votes to Join Russia
On March 16, the southeast Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea overwhelmingly voted to join Russia. The decision, the latest development in the Ukrainian political crisis, was greeted with massive celebrations throughout the region.
The referendum, which offered voters the choice between joining Russia or increased Crimean autonomy within Ukraine, saw 96% of voters choose the former. Voter turnout stood at 82.7%, despite vows by many of the peninsula’s ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars to boycott the vote.
The US and EU have denounced the referendum as illegal and are threatening sanctions against Russia. Russia continues to insist that it has a right to protect Crimea’s ethnic Russian majority, which it alleges faces persecution from the Ukrainian government, which it continues to regard as illegitimate and claims to be dominated by fascists.
Ukraine and the West also continue to question the legitimacy of the referendum, which saw a massive pro-Russian propaganda campaign against almost non-existent pro-Ukrainian efforts, and which the Ukrainian government claims was marred by numerous irregularities.
The referendum, which offered voters the choice between joining Russia or increased Crimean autonomy within Ukraine, saw 96% of voters choose the former. Voter turnout stood at 82.7%, despite vows by many of the peninsula’s ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars to boycott the vote.
The US and EU have denounced the referendum as illegal and are threatening sanctions against Russia. Russia continues to insist that it has a right to protect Crimea’s ethnic Russian majority, which it alleges faces persecution from the Ukrainian government, which it continues to regard as illegitimate and claims to be dominated by fascists.
Ukraine and the West also continue to question the legitimacy of the referendum, which saw a massive pro-Russian propaganda campaign against almost non-existent pro-Ukrainian efforts, and which the Ukrainian government claims was marred by numerous irregularities.
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