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Crimean leaders get red carpet treatment on visit to Moscow Crimean leaders get red carpet treatment on visit to Moscow
(about 5 hours later)
A day after Crimea's de facto rulers announced they had voted to join the Russian Federation, they were given the red carpet treatment in Moscow, in a further sign that Russia plans to annex the territory. A day after Crimea's de facto rulers announced they had voted to join the Russian Federation, they were given the red carpet treatment in Moscow, in a further sign Russia plans to annex the territory.
"If the people of Crimea express their will and decide to join Russia, we as the upper house of parliament will support their decision," said Valentina Matvienko, the speaker, in a joint press conference with her Crimean counterpart."If the people of Crimea express their will and decide to join Russia, we as the upper house of parliament will support their decision," said Valentina Matvienko, the speaker, in a joint press conference with her Crimean counterpart.
Later in the evening, the assault against Ukrainian military bases in the territory continued, as two trucks of Russian troops stormed a base near Sevastopol and threatened to "shoot to kill" those inside if they did not surrender. In the end, the troops left.
Crimea's parliament on Thursday rushed through a bill which in effect declared independence from Ukraine, and brought forward a referendum on autonomy which the region's deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliev, said would merely ratify the decision.Crimea's parliament on Thursday rushed through a bill which in effect declared independence from Ukraine, and brought forward a referendum on autonomy which the region's deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliev, said would merely ratify the decision.
Ukraine's interim prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, said on Thursday that the vote would have "no legal grounds at all", adding that "no one in the civilised world" would recognise the result. Ukraine's interim prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, said yesterday the vote would have "no legal grounds at all", adding that "no one in the civilised world" would recognise the result.
Earlier this week, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, that the idea of joining Crimea to Russia was "not being considered" but events since have suggested the opposite. Matvienko's comments are the strongest indication yet that Moscow is planning a move that would leave Kiev and the west furious. Earlier this week, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said the idea of joining Crimea to Russia was "not being considered" but events since have suggested the opposite.
"If the decision is made, it will be an absolutely equal subject of the Russian Federation with full rights and responsibilities … the citizens of Crimea will be equal to Russian citizens, with the same salaries, pensions, social benefits and social protection," said Matvienko. Matvienko's comments are the strongest indication yet that Moscow is planning a move that would leave Kiev and the west furious.
"If the decision is made, it will be an absolutely equal subject of the Russian Federation with full rights and responsibilities … The citizens of Crimea will be equal to Russian citizens, with the same salaries, pensions, social benefits and social protection," said Matvienko.
Putin, in a conversation with the US president, Barack Obama, said: "Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law," according to a Kremlin statement about the call.Putin, in a conversation with the US president, Barack Obama, said: "Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law," according to a Kremlin statement about the call.
Matvienko complained about the speed with which the new Ukrainian government wanted to hold presidential elections on 25 May, and said that the conditions in Ukraine were not conducive to free and fair elections, speaking of "continuing violence, intimidation, illegal decisions, seizure of buildings, humiliation of people, threats to life, a ban on speaking Russian, and the repression of political opponents and journalists". Matvienko complained about the speed with which the new Ukrainian government wanted to hold presidential elections on 25 May, and said the conditions in Ukraine were not conducive to free and fair elections, referring to "continuing violence, intimidation, illegal decisions, seizure of buildings, humiliation of people, threats to life, a ban on speaking Russian, and the repression of political opponents and journalists".
She appeared less concerned by the political situation in Crimea, where Sergei Aksyonov came to power during a murky seizure of the local parliament, and where the referendum date has been brought forward twice and will now be organised in just over a week.She appeared less concerned by the political situation in Crimea, where Sergei Aksyonov came to power during a murky seizure of the local parliament, and where the referendum date has been brought forward twice and will now be organised in just over a week.
Matvienko said Russian electoral observers would be sent to Crimea to "ensure that nobody can doubt the legitimacy of the vote", and the Crimeans have said they will welcome international observers. However, there is increasing concern about the lack of any kind of oversight of events in Crimea, where passions are high and groups of pro-Russian militia have behaved aggressively to journalists and monitors, forcing the UN's special envoy to cut short his trip and leave the region earlier in the week. There is increasing concern about the lack of oversight of events in Crimea, where passions are high and groups of pro-Russian militia have behaved aggressively to journalists and monitors, forcing the UN's special envoy to cut short his trip and leave the region earlier in the week.
On Friday, an OSCE observer mission intended to monitor the unusual military activity in Crimea was again turned back at a road crossing into the peninsula. The mission of 52 unarmed military observers from 28 countries was turned away at two checkpoints on Thursday, and made another attempt to enter by road on Friday. They were turned away by armed irregulars. Yesterday, an OSCE mission intended to monitor the military activity in Crimea was again turned back at a road crossing into the peninsula. The mission of 52 unarmed military observers from 28 countries was turned away by armed irregulars.
"Attempting to monitor the human rights situation in Crimea has become a near impossible task. Self-styled Crimean self-defence groups are harassing pro-Ukrainian protesters, journalists and human rights monitors with complete impunity," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and central Asia director at Amnesty International.
The de facto authorities on the peninsula are already preparing for the referendum. Although Ukrainian authorities have blocked the server containing the electoral roll, Crimean authorities have their own list left over from 2012 elections, said Mikhail Malyshev, the Crimea official in charge of organising the referendum. He said on Friday that 1,250 polling stations would be organised across the republic.
The referendum will ask whether voters want Crimea to join Russia or be given more autonomy within Ukraine. Almost everyone in the region wants autonomy for Crimea, but it is far from clear that a majority are in favour of joining Russia.The referendum will ask whether voters want Crimea to join Russia or be given more autonomy within Ukraine. Almost everyone in the region wants autonomy for Crimea, but it is far from clear that a majority are in favour of joining Russia.
In Moscow, a large government-sanctioned rally "in support of Crimea" gathered near the Kremlin on Friday, while in Sochi, Putin attended the opening of the Paralympics. Earlier in the day, he met the head of the Ukrainian delegation. Valeriy Shushkevich said he had asked Putin to keep the peace during the Olympic period. In Moscow, a large government-sanctioned rally "in support of Crimea" gathered near the Kremlin yesterday, while in Sochi, Putin attended the opening of the Paralympics. Earlier in the day, he met the head of the Ukrainian delegation. Valeriy Shushkevich said he had asked Putin to keep the peace during the Olympic period.
"If there is an escalation of the conflict, intervention on the territory of our country, God forbid the worst, we would not be able to stay here. We would go," he said later."If there is an escalation of the conflict, intervention on the territory of our country, God forbid the worst, we would not be able to stay here. We would go," he said later.
Ukraine's border guard service claims there are 30,000 Russian troops in Crimea, compared to 11,000 stationed there permanently before the tensions. Earlier in the week, Putin and the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, both insisted there were no Russian troops in Crimea, and that the well-armed men in military fatigues without insignia were part of the "Crimean self-defence unit". Ukraine's border guard service claims there are 30,000 Russian troops in Crimea, compared with 11,000 stationed there permanently before the tensions.
However, the troops are using Russian military vehicles and many admit privately that they are from Russia. Some appear to be part of Russia's Black Sea fleet, based in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, which is leased from Ukraine, while others have been sent from Russia. Russian generals have arrived at Ukrainian bases and demanded that the soldiers inside defect or hand over their weapons, which so far has not happened en masse.
"There's an incredibly tense situation now," said a Ukrainian military source in Sevastopol. "Neither side wants to be seen to shoot first, but if one side starts shooting, there is going to be chaos, and whoever fired the first shot will be held responsible. We feel they are trying to provoke us into that.""There's an incredibly tense situation now," said a Ukrainian military source in Sevastopol. "Neither side wants to be seen to shoot first, but if one side starts shooting, there is going to be chaos, and whoever fired the first shot will be held responsible. We feel they are trying to provoke us into that."
Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister who plans to stand in presidential elections in May, said during a visit to Dublin that if the west allowed Russia to annex Crimea there would be "guerilla war" in the region, and that the Kremlin could move on other territories. Late on Friday evening, two trucks of Russian troops stormed a Ukrainian missile defence base outside Sevastopol, driving two military trucks through the gates. The deputy commander of the base emerged and explained what had happened shortly after the standoff ended, late at night. Two trucks of people, "who did not identify themselves but we presume were Russian soldiers", stormed the base through the gates, and threatened to "shoot to kill" if the base was not surrendered, he said. The deputy commander said his troops ignored the orders and eventually negotiations took place with Russian officers, which ended with the Russians leaving. The two trucks sped out of the base at speed.
"He goes as far as he will be allowed to go," said Tymoshenko, referring to Putin. "Who is next? We never will be able to stabilise the situation in Ukraine and the wider region if it will be a permanent conflict." Outside, groups of "self-defence" irregulars gathered, and attacked at least two journalists, one Ukrainian and one Russian. As the Ukrainian, a cameraman, was being taken to hospital with a group of fellow journalists the car was stopped and they were again attacked. They were being treated in hospital in Simferopol overnight and the extent of their injuries was unclear.