Kyrgyzstan said it considers valid the results of Sunday's referendum in Crimea, in which the region voted in favor of seceding Ukraine and joining Russia.
"The results of the referendum in Crimea reflect the views of the region's absolute majority, and this is reality," Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"All initiatives and actions should be directed solely at maintaining fragile peace and stability in Ukraine and in the region. Tough measures are inadmissible," the ministry said.
The statement blames the former Ukrainian authorities for the political crisis in the country, which resulted in the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Earlier, Kyrgyzstan said it did not recognize Viktor Yanukovych as the president of Ukraine because "he lost the confidence of his people, presidential power and escaped from the country."
A referendum held Sunday in the predominantly Russian-speaking Crimean peninsula saw an overwhelming majority of voters support reunification with Russia after 60 years as part of Ukraine.
A treaty providing for the Black Sea peninsula's annexation was signed by Crimean leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in the Kremlin.
This report contains material from the Moscow Times.
Related:
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.