Serhiy Aksionov, the prime minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has announced his decision to temporarily put all security and law enforcement agencies in the republic under his own control.
Aksionov also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in maintaining peace and accord in Crimea.
“As the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, exercising the powers delegated to me by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, I make the decision to temporarily put the armed units and groups of the Interior Ministry, the Security Service, the armed forces, the Emergencies Ministry, the fleet, the Tax Service, and the border guards under my direct control. All commanders shall follow only my orders and instructions, and I ask those who disagree to retire from service,” Aksionov said in a statement Interfax-Ukraine obtained from Crimean Supreme Council secretariat chief Olha Sonnikova.
In motivating his decision, Aksionov said that “despite the agreements with the central authorities on not appointing law enforcement and security chiefs without the Crimean Supreme Council’s consent and not violating the Republic of Crimea’s regulations stipulated by Ukrainian laws and the law on police, Ihor Yakovlevych Avrutsky was appointed chief of the Crimean police department yesterday, on February 28, 2014.”
The security and law enforcement agencies stationed in Crimea are unable to efficiently control the situation in the republic, where riots have sparked with the use of firearms, the statement says.
“Taking into account the abovementioned, understanding my responsibility for the people’s lives and security, I am appealing to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in ensuring peace and accord on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” Aksionov’s statement says.
