The resolution of the Supreme Council of Crimea to hold a referendum in the autonomous republic is illegal, Ukrainian Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko has said.
The issue of a referendum is illegal, as the issue of changing the
status of Crimea is not subject to review by local referendums – it is a
matter for a nationwide referendum,” he told journalists in Kyiv on
Thursday.
Petrenko noted that the decision to hold a referendum had been taken in violation of procedure.
He said that the current decision in Crimea had been taken under the pressure of armed force.
“There’s only one way out – the withdrawal of Russian troops from
Crimea, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is ready to develop with the
Crimean Supreme Council a new version of the Constitution concerning
broader powers for Crimea, including economic powers. This was in our
election program,” Petrenko said.
He added that Ukraine was ready to delegate more powers to the local
authorities “so that full local government could start working in our
country.”
“Crimea is the territory of Ukraine. Residents of Crimea have
probably felt that the presence of Russian troops there will primarily
hurt Crimean residents,” he said.
Petrenko predicted that the holiday season in the autonomy would be
disrupted. However, he said that the Ukrainian authorities would fulfill
their obligations concerning the replenishment of the autonomy’s local
budget.
