Crimean parliament votes for independence

Crimea parliament declares independence from Ukraine ahead of referendum

RT,

11 March, 2014

The parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has adopted an independence declaration from Ukraine which is necessary for holding a March 16 referendum.

“We, the members of the parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council, with regard to the charter of the United Nations and a whole range of other international documents and taking into consideration the confirmation of the status of Kosovo by the United Nations International Court of Justice on July, 22, 2010, which says that unilateral declaration of independence by a part of the country doesn’t violate any international norms, make this decision,” says the text of the declaration, which was published by the Crimean media.

The document was adopted during an extraordinary session of parliament.

78 of 100 members of the parliament voted in favor of the declaration.

The Crimean parliament’s vote to become an independent sovereign state paves the way for the March 16 referendum for the Crimean Autonomous Republic and the city of Sevastopol to join Russia.

Maxim Eristavi @MaximEristavi

Follow

Crimea parliament voted for the declaration of independence, ahead of a secession referendum 

11:24 PM - 11 Mar 2014

75 RETWEETS 10 FAVORITES

If the referendum is in favor, the Crimean authorities will request for their country to become a constituent republic of the Russian Federation.

The declaration was signed by the speaker of the Supreme Council of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov, and the head of the Sevastopol City Council, Yury Doynikov.

“We adopted the declaration of independence to make the upcoming referendum legitimate and transparent,” Konstantinov said.

“Now we declare ourselves the Republic of Crimea, we don’t add ‘autonomous."

After Tuesday’s declaration of independence, Crimea will never rejoin Ukraine, Konstantinov added.

“Crimea won’t be a part of Ukraine even if the ousted president, Viktor Yanukovich, returns to power,” he said. “The country where we lived doesn’t exist anymore. We are going our own way and we’re trying to do it quickly.”

Konstantinov said that Crimea will adopt the Russian ruble as its currency soon after the referendum.

Meanwhile, Crimean authorities are preparing for Sunday’s poll, says the speaker of the Supreme Council of Crimea. He reiterated that he believes the referendum will be passed.

“The ballots for the referendum are being printed and the election committees are being formed in all parts of Crimea," he says.

Seventy-seven percent of people in Crimea and Sevastopol will vote to join Russia in the March 16 referendum, according to the poll conducted by Crimea Republican Institute of Political and Sociological Research.

Eighty-five percent of people in Sevastopol, a city with a special status located on the Crimean peninsula, believe that it should join Russia.

According to the poll, 97 percent of the population of Sevastopol and Crimea negatively view the situation in Ukraine regarding the Kiev coup-imposed government, while 84 percent say that Ukraine is experiencing a crisis.

A total of 83 percent of the population of Crimea disapprove of the coup-appointed government in Kiev, the poll found.

The Ministry of Finance is ready to allocate more of Crimea 30 billion rubles

Минфин готовится выделить на Крым более 30 млрд рублей

In case of entry into the Russian republic will receive financial assistance from the Reserve Fund

Izvestia,

11 March, 2014

Russia's Finance Ministry is preparing to change the budget when entering the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the Russian Federation. As told "Izvestia" a senior source in the department Anton Siluanova, we are talking about tens of billions of rubles, the exact amount is not yet determined, but it will exceed 30 billion rubles. In the Federation Council also say that the $ 100 million for the basing of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol should go into the coffers of autonomy rather than Kiev.

- Crimea - tourist region. In the current situation the flow of tourists will fall sharply, but people need something to live on. Accordingly, if the Crimea is a part of Russia, the money will be allocated as well as other regions, but this will have to change the budget code. Amount not yet discuss, since March 16 will be a referendum. In any case, citizens will not be left without the support of Russia, - said the source publication, noting that the amount of subsidies is likely to exceed 30 billion rubles. - While in the plans: not to reduce any individual state program budget and finance Crimea from the Reserve Fund, but once again, I stress that all the figures will be known after the referendum.

In 2014, the Crimean budget is defined in terms of income 5.378 billion hryvnia (21.197 billion rubles), expenses - to 5.253 billion hryvnia (20.704 billion rubles), and the budget, for example, the Samara region for the current year is 116 billion rubles . At the same time the Ministry of Finance clarifies that negative situation, both political and economic, Ukraine Crimea cause financial harm, but exact calculations yet.

In the State Duma "News" said that the Ministry of Finance did discuss the process of helping the Crimea. Member of the Committee on Budget and Taxes Nikolai Gonchar ("United Russia") notes that no changes to the budget figure is not clearly named.

- And now offer this figure, given that the referendum will be held only on March 16, would be the height of tactlessness. We would like to see the residents of the Crimea made a conscious choice, and not deceived by those or other financial preferences. If Crimea decides that it becomes a part of the Russian Federation, as well as such a decision shall take appropriate authorities, during the transitional period will be introduced Russian laws, including the budget code, - said the parliamentarian.

Head of the Federation Council Sergei budget Riabukhin told "Izvestia" that the Upper House of Parliament is waiting for proposals of the Ministry of Finance to take part in the work of the Crimea.

- Now it is very difficult to determine the extent of changes in the content of the budget code. But still have to make changes to a number of regulations, including a list of subjects of the Russian Federation, and the list reflected in the Constitution. Accordingly require constitutional changes, but it will all be based on the results of voting. I am sure that 80% will vote for joining Russia - said Riabukhin, adding that the newly formed federal subject will be distributed very large number of Russian state programs that are an integral part of the Budget Code of Russia.

- We (the Federation Council. - "News") supervise several programs for sustainable, balanced development of the regions of the budgetary system. We will look expenses, revenues, including those that will be distributed to the Crimea. This infrastructural facilities: construction of the bridge, which will cost less than the English Channel. Need to do everything in a short time. Improve tourist attraction - to create modern tourism facilities, - stressed the head of the Budget Committee of the Federation Council.

At the same time he called it unfair that Moscow pays a lot of money for the basing of the fleet in Sevastopol, as Kiev Crimea financed on leftovers, and money often do not reach the region.

- In accordance with the agreement, we pay $ 100 million for the fleet, in this case is perfectly legal to use this money for infrastructure development of the Crimea. Why pay the self-proclaimed government needs to allocate the money to the Russian-speaking population. This is more true - says Sergey Riabukhin.

He also noted that when entering the Crimea to Russia will need to equate retired citizens autonomy, wages and other social benefits to the average data for Russia.

According to Rosstat, the average salary in Russia - 25,511 rubles, in the Crimea - 11,105 rubles; average monthly pension in Russia - 9,917 rubles, whereas autonomy - 5,674 rubles.