"The incumbent authorities are absolutely illegitimate, they were brought to power by guns, knives and baseball bats. While they are in office, there will be no dialog not only with them, but also with the rest of the country," Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said Sunday in an interview with a local television station.
"They should give explanations to the people, disarm gangs and hold fair and open elections. Then the autonomous republic of Crimea will engage in dialog with Ukraine's lawful government," he said.
Authorities in Crimea, which hosts a majority Russian naval base, have repeatedly contested the legitimacy of the national government, formed by the erstwhile opposition after the country's pro-Russian president was ousted late last month.
Crimea's parliament decided Thursday to secede from Ukraine and request annexation by Russia. The region scheduled a popular vote on the matter for March 16.
Konstantinov said Saturday that if the decision to join Russia is approved in the referendum, the process will be complete "in about a month."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
