Crimea's Leader 'Certain' Referendum Will Result In Union With Russia
Ukraine faces prospect of division even if Sunday's hastily-arranged ballot will go unrecognised by most of the world
The Guardian, Friday 14 March 2014 14.39 EDT
The voting does not start until Sunday morning, but the results are already in, according to Crimea's de facto leader, who said on Friday he was "absolutely certain" the region would vote to join the Russian Federation.
Crimea's controversial referendum has been organised in a matter of days, takes place with the Russian army occupying a number of key positions in the region, and will not be recognised by most of the world.
But there is an increasing sense of certainty here that not only will the required vote be delivered but that Moscow will oblige and welcome the Ukrainian peninsula as Russian territory.
Crimea's de facto prime minister, Sergei Aksyonov, said day he expected a turnout of 80% for the referendum, and a percentage even higher than that to vote for union with Russia. Recognition from Russia and acceptance into the fold should come next week, he said.
The ballots will ask voters to tick one of two boxes: option one provides for Crimea to enter the Russian Federation, while option two returns the region to the 1992 constitution, giving it broad autonomy within the Ukrainian state. Retaining the status quo is not an option.
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/14/crimea-leader-certain-referendum-result-union-russia-ukraine
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