Ukraine: Crimea proposes referendum People hold flags during a pro-Russian rally outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol yesterday. — Reuters-David Mdzinarishvili
People hold flags during a pro-Russian rally outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol yesterday. — Reuters-David Mdzinarishvili

People hold flags during a pro-Russian rally outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol yesterday. — Reuters-David Mdzinarishvili

KIEV. — The parliament of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea has proposed a referendum to determine the region’s future amid the turmoil in the country.
According to reports by Itar-Tass, ousted president, Viktor Yanukovich, is now in Russia and will hold a press conference today.
The region’s parliament said the all-Crimean referendum is about “improving the status of autonomy and expanding its powers.”
“According to the underlying principles of democracy, the presidium of the Crimean parliament considers that the only possible way out of the situation on the ground is applying the principles of direct rule of the people. We are confident that only by holding an All-Crimean referendum on the issue of improving the status of the Autonomy and expanding its powers Crimeans will be able to determine the future of the Autonomy on their own and without any external pressure,” Oksana Korniychuk, the press secretary of the head of the parliament, said in a statement yesterday.

As a result of “the unconstitutional seizure of power in Ukraine by radical nationalists supported by armed gangs,” Crimea’s peace and order is “under threat,” the spokeswoman stressed.

The Wednesday clashes near the parliament’s building in Simferopol, which led to two deaths and about 30 injuries is “a result of rampant political extremism and violence gripping the country,” which could bring Ukraine to “complete chaos, anarchy and economic catastrophe,” Korniychuk said.

The Autonomy’s parliament thus takes “full responsibility for the future of Crimea,” relying on the will of its people, she said.
A provisional date for the referendum has been set as May 25, which coincides with the early Ukrainian presidential and city mayoral elections, the Crimean Information Agency said, citing the chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov. The Council will vote on a proposal to hold the referendum later Thursday and the region’s economy will also be discussed, he said.

Meanwhile, anxious Western powers voiced fear over the growing Crimea crisis yesterday, warning Russia not to escalate tensions and telling pro-Moscow separatists they were playing a “dangerous game”.

After dozens of pro-Russian gunmen seized government buildings in the volatile peninsula — raising fears of a full-blown regional conflict — Nato leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen tweeted his concern and pleaded with Moscow “not to take any action that can escalate tension or create misunderstanding”.

Rasmussen later told a meeting of the Nato-Ukraine Commission that developments in Crimea were “dangerous and irresponsible”, and pleaded for “all parties to step back from confrontation”.

Adding to the tension, Ukraine’s interim president Oleksandr Turchynov warned Russia any movement of troops in its Black Sea fleet, which is based in Crimea, would “be considered as military aggression”. Russia, which has announced a major military exercise in the region, said it would abide by treaties governing the fleet.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Russia to tread carefully.

“I am closely watching the Russian military exercise . . . I expect them to be transparent about these activities,” he said. I urge them not to take steps that could be misinterpreted or lead to miscalculation.”

In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“Every country should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia has made that commitment and it’s important that Russia keeps its word,” Cameron said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Britain also said it was watching Russian military exercises “carefully”, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills near the Ukrainian border. — RT/AFP.

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