Russia won't have to take austerity measures, even if Crimea joins federation, lawmaker says

As Crimea is going to hold a referendum devoted to the peninsula's official status, many experts argue that if the region becomes a part of the Russian Federation, the country will have to take some austerity measures, as Crimea needs considerable financial aid.

However, the Deputy Head of the State Duma's Economic Policy Committee, Mikhail Yemelyanov, disputes such claims.

According to him, no investment project launched in other regions of the federation will be cancelled. "Crimea joining the federation won't affect any of the investment programmes in other parts of the country," he says.