Posted on 03/16/2014 5:16:44 PM PDT by mandaladon
Crimean voters on Sunday overwhelmingly backed a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, in an election denounced by the United States, Europe and the Ukrainian government as illegal and destabilizing.
Fireworks exploded and Russian flags fluttered above jubilant crowds after the vote, which election officials said stood at 95 percent with more than half of the ballots counted.
The vote, the final results of which were not expected until Monday, offered voters on the strategic Black Sea peninsula the choice of seeking annexation by Russia or remaining in Ukraine with greater autonomy.
Opponents of secession appeared to largely stay away Sunday, denouncing the vote as a cynical power play/land grab by Russia. But turnout was reported to be well above the 50 percent that would make the referendum binding -- and secession was expected to be approved overwhelmingly.
"We want to go back home, and today we are going back home," said Viktoria Chernyshova, a 38-year-old businesswoman. "We needed to save ourselves from those unprincipled clowns who have taken power in Kiev."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Putin has killed and jailed many Russians who oppose his rule of the Russian kleptocracy.
Amazing, isn't it? Not long ago I would have stood proudly next to just about anyone here on FR in opposition to government oppression. Now it's like just pick and choose who would sell you out in a heartbeat - "oh, it's no big deal".
The referendum was fixed in that there was no option to stay with Ukraine (see WhiskeyX’s posts), and that is I suspect why EU declined the invitation. Russians have vast experience in conducting and manipulating elections, there have always been elections in the Soviet Union and the Soviet bloc countries, and you can’t just call every election a democratic process.
Thanks for your post...appreciated as too many on FR are “biting” ..calling people Putin Sympthizers and Commies...and that’s simply not true. Rather we try and understand the peoples involved, the nature of their conflicts and what is true or not.
You are right in saying there are no good guys in Ukraine...and the propaganda flows like water.
I do resent that the USA media is on a major role to discredit Putin on ‘everything’ regardless what the truth is. You can expect it from Putin and Russia..that is their way...but there was a time when this NAtions Media reported the facts...no more unfortunately.
They look like obama voters
It’s a done deal and our leaders should stop trying to get us in a war. I’m sick of the Cold War rhetoric already. If I was a Russian in the Crimea region, I wouldn’t want to live under the Kiev regime.
What about them makes you say that? elaborate please
I agree that Crimea is likely as far as Putin will go...this round. However with the condition Ukraine must meet, to allow US missile sites on their land...if they move on that Putin may well then move on Southern and EAstern Ukraine.
Putin don’t take no shit.
Remember, gays control the media, and they want Putin gone.
Yes well here in Washington state there were more than a few elections that should not have been allowed. Welcome to the world.
He will take all the imports from Ukraine and bulldoze them with the media taking pictures. That will be the canary.
He did pardon and release Khordokovsky, however. I was surprised!
But wait a minute, what kind of referendum was it under the guns of occupying foreign army? Have we lost our minds here at FR?
I believe the questions were prepared by the Crimean Parliament - that means, by fairly elected representatives of The People. Don't they have the right to offer *any* questions for consideration? If not, are they somebody's slaves?
The voters could simply vote "NO" by not coming. If less than 50% of registered voters show up, the referendum does not count. But they came in large numbers, if the news are to be believed.
Additionally, they could vote for (2) - stay with Ukraine, but to renegotiate the terms. This would be a very good time for such a change. Again, the Parliament is free to do this negotiation.
As you can see, I'm strongly in favor of true democracy, without conditions. The people of the land hold the ultimate power on that land. I faintly recall one old Constitution that even begins with words "We, The People..." As long as the vote is free (there is no clear evidence to think otherwise,) Crimeans are welcome to do whatever they want with their territory... and bear the consequences, of course. It's Ukraine's loss, sure... but is it so rare that a spouse leaves the failed family? Or maybe we need a law that prohibits divorces?
I wish I knew why the EU and (gag) the US are supporting what Ukraine is doing and damning Putin.
Remember, gays control the media, and they want Putin gone.
Yes, only they aren’t “gay”, they’re faggots...
Crimean Russians remember Kosovo and understand that it could be their fate once the Ukrainian fascist illegal government gets its shit together and coordinates tactics with their western mentors, the EU and the US. The Svoboda fascists were already moving against the Russian minority by removing Russian as one of the official languages. That’s step one in marginalizing a people. Putin had to move fast to protect those people or they’d end up like the Christians in Syria, running for their lives, and I give Putin credit for it. Crimean Russians don’t want to get bombed by NATO like the Serbs did.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.