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Follow the link to learn moreThe Crimean Supreme Council decided on Thursday that the Autonomous Republic of Crimea would become a part of Russia, the Crimean parliament press center said.
"The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea resolved: To join the Russian Federation as a constituent of the Russian Federation; To hold on March 16, 2014, an all-Crimea referendum (including Sevastopol) with the following questions: 1) Do you support reunification of Crimea with Russia as a constituent of the Russian Federation? 2) Do you support the reinstatement of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Crimea and the Crimean status as a part of Ukraine?"
The resolution noted that the answer, which gained the majority of votes, would become the direct expression of will of the Crimean population, the press service said.
All-Crimea referendum papers will be printed in the Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.
The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea proposed to the Russian president and the State Duma to begin the procedure of Crimea's accession to Russia as a constituent of the Russian Federation.
A source from the Crimean parliament told Interfax 78 deputies had voted for the resolution.
A referendum on the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has been moved from March 30 to March 16, a source from the Crimean Council of Ministers told Interfax.
At an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea adopted an address to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him whether Russia is ready to accept Crimea as a member of the Russian Federation, Volodymyr Klychnikov, a member of the presidium of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, told Interfax.
