Speaker of the Crimean Parliament Vladimir Konstantinov said that Crimea will not remain a territory of Ukraine regardless of whether President Victor Yanukovych returns or not, RIA Novosti reports.
Crimea has passed a Declaration of Independence today, approved by Sevastopol, based on the UN Charter and the decision of the UN International Court of Justice for Kosovo (July 22, 2010). The referendum of March 16 will decide whether Crimea and Sevastopol will join Russia.
