The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has demanded that the Crimean parliament immediately reconsider its decision of March 6, 2014 to hold an all-Crimean referendum on March 16 and bring it into conformity with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Constitution of Crimea.
A total of 255 lawmakers out of the 324 registered in the parliament’s session hall voted for a respective statement of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.
The statement notes that the decision to hold the referendum contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine.
Lawmakers believe that an appeal by the Crimean Supreme Council to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federal Assembly contradicts Articles 134 and 138 of the Constitution of Ukraine, according to which the Crimean parliament is not authorized to carry out foreign policy relations.
The Verkhovna Rada considers it appropriate to address the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) regarding the Crimean Supreme Council’s decision of March 6, 2014 to hold an all-Crimean referendum on March 16.
The Ukrainian parliament also asked residents of Crimea not to participate in the referendum on March 16.
