Russian Duma Approves Crimea Annexation / State Duma adopts documents on Crimea’s joining the Russian Federation (2 video)

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has overwhelmingly ratified a treaty to annex Crimea from Ukraine.

The lawmakers voted on the measure Thursday, and the parliament's upper house, the Federation Council, will hold a similar vote on Friday.

Crimeans voted in a regional referendum last Sunday to declare independence from Ukraine in hopes of joining the Russian Federation.


On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin and Crimean leaders signed the treaty making Crimea part of Russia after Mr. Putin declared in a speech that the peninsula had always been an "inalienable" part of Russia. The Kremlin said later Tuesday that the treaty was in force from the day it was signed.

• United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is visiting Moscow, expressed deep concern - saying the referendum will only exacerbate "an already complex and tense situation."

Meanwhile, the European Union is readying further sanctions against Russia over its annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her nation's parliament Thursday the EU is prepared to move to "Level 3" measures, which would include economic sanctions, if the situation worsens.

The EU and the United States have already imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Russian officials deemed responsible for the incursion into Crimea.

Chancellor Merkel said the Group of Eight forum of leading economies is effectively suspended as long as the diplomatic standoff with Russia continues. Russia is part of the G8, along with Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

• Mr. Ban is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, before traveling to Ukraine Friday.

Meanwhile, President Turchynov says the commander of Ukraine's navy has been freed after being held by Russian forces and Crimean authorities at the navy's headquarters in Crimea. He said Rear Admiral Sergei Haiduk was released, along with an unspecified number of civilians.

The group was detained after the Ukrainian naval base in the Crimean port of Sevastopol was seized Wednesday. Reports indicated pro-Russian militiamen -- Crimea's so-called "self-defense" forces -- were behind the takeover, but President Turchynov's statement suggests Russian forces were also involved.

After the seizure, which faced no resistance from Ukrainian servicemen, Ukraine's security chief said the country has drawn up plans to evacuate its outnumbered military personnel from the Crimean peninsula.

In announcing the withdrawal, Andriy Parubiy -- secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council -- said Kyiv will seek United Nations support in turning the peninsula into a demilitarized zone. He also said Ukraine is planning to hold military maneuvers "with our allies," but did not elaborate.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told reporters in Lithuania Wednesday that Russia will face "increasing political and economic isolation" as long as it continues on what he called "its dark path."
http://www.voanews.com/content/russian-duma-approves-crimea-annexation/1875426.html
20/3/14
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• Putin Signs Crimea Reunification Treaty

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• State Duma adopts documents on Crimea’s joining the Russian Federation

The Russian State Duma has adopted in first reading and a whole the federal constitutional law on Crimea’s admission to the Russian Federation and on creating new sub-federal entities — the Republic of Crimea and the city of federal significance Sevastopol. In the final reading, 445 parliamentarians casted affirmative votes and one deputy voted against the bill submitted by the president. The only lawmaker that did not support the document was member of A Just Russia party Ilya Ponomaryov.
The lawmakers have also ratified the interstate treaty on the admission of Crimea into Russia. The treaty, ratified by a 443-1 vote with no abstentions, was signed at the Kremlin on March 18 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crimean State Council Chairman Vladimir Konstantinov, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov and Sevastopol Mayor Aleksei Chaliy.
After the lawmakers backed the documents, the Russian national anthem was played in the plenary sessions’ hall. The anthem is traditionally played only on the opening and closing sessions of the lower house of Russian parliament.

What do the documents stipulate

The decision to admit Crimea into Russia is based on the results of the all-Crimea referendum held on March 16, 2014, in which people supported re-unification of Crimea with Russia as its constituent member, the declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and the treaty between Russia and Crimea on the latter’s admission into the Russian Federation and the formation of new constituent members within it.
The republic is considered admitted into the Russian Federation as from March 18, the date of the treaty’s signing. From this day on, the citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons permanently residing at that moment on the territory of the Republic of Crimea and in Sevastopol are considered citizens of Russia. In addition, a deadline of one month is set, during which the Crimeans wishing to keep Ukrainian passports should notify about it.
The official languages of the Republic of Crimea are Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar.

When the documents come into effect

After the lower house of parliament supported the documents, they are submitted to the Federation Council. The senators are expected to review the documents at an extraordinary session on March 21.
The law will come into effect from when comes into effect the treaty between Russia and the Republic of Crimea on the republic’s admission into the Russian Federation and on creation of new sub-federal entities. At present, the treaty is implemented temporarily, from the date of signing, and will come into effect from the date of ratification.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/724601
20/3/14
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