You're reading: Temirgaliyev: Accession to Russia may take 12 months

The formation of Crimean state institutions and the switch to Russian standards may take up to twelve months since the moment the republic chooses to join Russia, Crimean First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev told Interfax.

“If the referendum yields this decision, it will take from three to
twelve months to form the authorities, to reconfigure the judiciary, to
coach judges and jurists for work under Russian laws and to exchange
documents, including passports,” Temirgaliyev said.

In his words, Ukrainian ids of Crimean residents will be exchanged
for Russian identification documents in a simplified procedure and
gratis.

Temirgaliyev also disclosed the procedure of Crimea’s possible
accession to Russia. “After this decision is made at referendum, the
Crimean parliament will appeal to Russian colleagues. A decision of
Russia’s authorized body will be required. Then, most probably, Crimea
and Russia will conclude a treaty. We will have to write our
constitution and elect the regional head. Most probably, we will have
the acting head at the first. He will be elected by the parliament with
consent of the Russian president,” Temirgaliyev said.