You're reading: Russia’s Council member: Referendum in Crimea won’t lead to its secession from Ukraine

A referendum on Crimea's status will not mean the peninsula's secession from Ukraine, says Igor Morozov, a member of the Russian Federation Council international affairs committee and head of a working group.

“Our colleagues from the Crimean Supreme Council are stressing this at all levels and declare Ukraine’s integrity, so that Crimea remain part of Ukraine,” Morozov told Interfax.

“The referendum should invest Crimea with more independence and powers, granting it international status, which should make sure that the republic develops more efficiently in economic and investment terms,” he said.

It was reported earlier that the Crimean parliament had passed a resolution at an extraordinary plenary session on Thursday on holding a local referendum regarding the adjustment of Crimea’s status and powers.