Crimean status referendum Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

on 27 february, following takeover of building russian special forces, supreme council of crimea voted hold referendum on 25 may, initial question whether crimea should upgrade autonomy within ukraine. referendum date later moved 25 may 30 march. ukrainian court declared referendum illegal.

on 4 march, russian president vladimir putin said russia not considering annexing crimea. said of peninsula citizens themselves, in conditions of free expression of , security can determine future . putin later acknowledged had ordered work bring crimea russia february. acknowledged in march there secret opinion polls held in crimea, which, according him, reported overwhelming popular support crimea s incorporation russia.

on 6 march, supreme council moved referendum date 16 march , changed scope ask new question: whether crimea should accede russia or restore 1992 constitution within ukraine, ukrainian government had invalidated. referendum, unlike 1 announced earlier, contained no option maintain status quo of governance under 1998 constitution. ukraine s then-acting president, oleksander turchinov, stated authorities in crimea totally illegitimate, both parliament , government. forced work under barrel of gun , decisions dictated fear , illegal.

on 14 march, crimean status referendum deemed unconstitutional constitutional court of ukraine, , day later, verkhovna rada formally dissolved crimean parliament.

the referendum held despite opposition ukrainian government. official results reported 95% of participating voters in crimea in favour of russian annexation of crimea. results of referendum questioned; report evgeny bobrov, member of russian president s human rights council, suggested official results inflated , 15% 30% of crimeans eligible vote voted russian option.

the means referendum conducted criticised foreign governments , in ukrainian , international press, reports holding russian passport regardless of residency in crimea allowed vote. after osce refused send observers russia invited group of observers various european far-right political parties aligned putin, stated referendum conducted in free , fair manner.