- Crimeans cast their votes during the scheduled referendum. Observations made during this exercise were:
- 93% voted to join Russia & 7% favoured staying with Ukraine
- largest ever voter turnout of 80%
- International observers from 23 nations saw no violence or any untoward incidents during voting
- International Reactions to the above referendum:
- Western nations rejected the procedure
- Putin agreed to Germany’s proposal of expanding the already present Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to eastern Ukraine
- Russia vetoed US inspired UN Resolution of criticizing the referendum, China abstained
- Crimea history:
- part of Russia till 1954
- USSR leader Nikita Khrushchev signed it off to Ukraine
Exams Perspective:
- Ukraine crisis
- Crimea Referendum
- Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)