Ahead of the Crimean referendum

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Yesterday the parliament of Crimea decided to merge with Russia and shift the referendum on extension of rights of the autonomous republic to March 16th. Residents of the peninsula will have to choose between merging with Russia and returning to the Constitution of 1992. Apparently, the referendum will face political and legal criticism from the de facto authorities of Ukraine and the West. US President Barack Obama has already stated that the referendum on Crimea’s future will “break the Constitution of Ukraine and international law. Any discussions of Crimea’s future should involve the legitimate government in Kiev. However, there are opportunities for a settlement of the crisis, taking into account the interests of Russia and the Ukrainian people. International observers should have access to the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, to provide respect for the rights of all citizens of Ukraine, including ethnic Russians. Consultations between Russia and Ukraine should be conducted with the participation of international mediators. This will enable Russia to preserve its interests on the Crimea.”

Alexei Mukhin, director of the Center for Political Information, thinks that the information war unleashed essentially by the media on social networks was fake: “It was virtual and the fact that the United States, Canada and other G8 countries are now putting psychological pressure on Russia only highlights how disappointed they are that they have let themselves be misled, while their politicians have already responded to the alleged aggression and invasion of Russia. Russia, remaining in a legal framework, is now in a very advantageous position.”

Mukhin recalled that in the early stages of the conflict Vladimir Putin spoke about the possibility of creating a broad contact group to resolve this political crisis, as well as creating certain institutions, supporting certain institutions in Ukraine to allow Ukraine to independently solve this problem. However, back then he wasn't supported. “The fact that now Angela Merkel is rather carefully proposing to do more or less the same as Vladimir Putin had previously suggested demonstrates that, in the EU framework, Russia and Germany are in a state of balanced partnership. This is very encouraging, since ignoring even the suggestive propositions of Angela Merkel by both sides of the conflict in my opinion would be impractical. I am talking about Brussels, I am talking about Washington.”

According to Mukhin, “Russia, by its political decision announced by the Federation Council alon, has awoken certain civic institutions and political institutions in the south, in the east of Ukraine and in Crimea, in order for them to organize themselves and resist the aggression coming from Western Ukraine. There have always been fanatics in Western Ukraine. There always has been this one idea that exists now as well. Unfortunately, it is russophobia, anti-Russian sentiments. Ukrainians themselves could not stop this aggression directed at the East, the South of Ukraine and Crimea. The very presence of Russia, its political decision alone, has awoken certain institutions. Russia, without interfering in the sovereign affairs of a sovereign state, is ready to guarantee and recognize in the future a new political system, already somewhat reformed, if the elections are indeed legitimate. In fact, Angela Merkel has agreed to this as well, proposing considering the possibility of the federalization of Ukrainian regions.”