Crimea holds national referendum
(VOVworld) – The autonomous republic of Crimea is voting Sunday on merging with Russia as an entity with polling stations open from 8 am until 8 pm. During a telephone conversation earlier with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that a referendum in Crimea is in line with the international laws and the International Constitution. After inspecting the referendum’s preparation activities, European Parliament representatives and international observers stated that they could not find any violations at polling stations in Crimea. Another international observation mission from the “European Institute on Democracy and Voting supervision”, which comprises 30 members from some European countries, also affirmed that Crimea’s preparation for referendum is in accordance with the autonomous republic’s laws and international standards.
Crimea was reported "calm" one day before the referendum
Photo: internet
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A day before the referendum, the UN Security Council met to vote on a US draft resolution on Ukraine’s situation. The draft resolution was supported by 13 members of the UN Security Council while Russia vetoed it and China abstained. Russian representative to UN VItaly Churkin stated that Russia could not support the draft resolution as it goes against principles of equality and self determination of nations, stated in Article 1 of the UN Charter.