West rejects ‘illegitimate’ Crimea referendum

Canada won’t recognize vote

• Ukraine lurched toward breakup Thursday when lawmakers in Crimea unanimously declared they wanted to join Russia and would put the decision to voters in 10 days — and Russian lawmakers pushed a bill to facilitate a handover.

Western leaders were quick to condemn the moves.

Crimea is a region under “illegal military occupation,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said as he declared Canada would not recognize the region’s forthcoming vote on its future. The results of such a referendum would be illegitimate, he added.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an act of aggression, a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and of international law. Canada will not recognize a referendum held in a region currently under il- legal military occupation.”

In Washington, U. S . President Barack Obama said any decisions on the future of Crimea must include the country’s new government.

“The proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the constitution and violate international law,” Mr. Obama said.

“We are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hand was almost certainly behind Thursday’s dramatic developments, but it was not clear whether he is aiming for outright annexation, or simply strengthening his hand in talks with the West.

The White House moved to impose financial sanctions and travel restrictions on opponents of Ukraine’s new government and the European Union also announced limited punitive measures against Mr. Putin’s government, including the suspension of trade and visa talks.

Both Washington and the EU said they were discussing further sanctions.

Earlier, Crimea’s parliament rammed through what amounted to a declaration of independence from Ukraine, announcing it would let Crimeans, 60% of whom are ethnic Russian, decide whether they want to become part of their gigantic neighbour to the east. The vote passed by a huge margin, with 78 out of 86 MPs supporting it.

“This is our response to the disorder and lawlessness in Kyiv,” said Sergei Shuvainikov, a member of the legislature. “We will decide our future ourselves.”

Ukraine’s prime minister swiftly denounced the action. “This so-called referendum has no legal grounds at all,” said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The country’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, said Ukraine would move to dissolve Crimea’s parliament, but such an action would have virtually no practical effect.

At an emergency EU summit in Brussels, Herman Van Rompuy, the bloc’s president, said it was suspending talks with Russia on a wideranging economic pact and a visa deal. It would also consider further measures if Russia does not quickly open meaningful dialogue.

“Not everyone will be satisfied with the decision but I should say that we did much more together than one could have expected several hours ago,” said Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.

In Moscow, a prominent member of Russia’s parliament, Sergei Mironov,

This is our response to the disorder and lawlessness in Kyiv.

said he had introduced a bill to simplify the procedure for Crimea to join Russia and it could be passed as soon as next week.

On Tuesday, Mr. Putin said Russia had no intention of annexing Crimea, while insisting its people have the right to determine the region’s status in a referendum. A popular vote would give him a democratic fig-leaf for what would effectively be a formal takeover — although it was too early to tell whether such a move would actually go forward.

For the Russian president, Crimea would be a dazzling acquisition, and help cement his authority with a Russian citizenry that has in recent years shown signs of restiveness and still resents the loss of the sprawling empire Moscow ruled in Soviet times. The peninsula was once Russia’s imperial crown jewel, a lush land seized by Catherine the Great in the 18th century that evokes Russia’s claim to greatness as a world power.

A referendum had previously been scheduled in Crimea on March 30, but the question to be put to voters was whether their region should enjoy “state autonomy” within Ukraine.

The city legislature in Sevastopol, the Crimean port that hosts Russia’s naval base, voted late Thursday to join the referendum. The vote was necessary because the city has an autonomous status, making it separate from the rest of Crimea.

Crimea’s new leader has said proRussian forces numbering more than 11,000 now control all access to the peninsula in the Black Sea.

Gunmen at an improvised checkpoint on Crimea’s regional border with the rest of Ukraine blocked a group of 40 unarmed military observers, who include two Canadians, from carrying out an inspection mission.