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Crimea and Sevastopol

Senior MP: Sanctions won’t reverse Russia’s stance on Crimea

"As for return of Crimea and Sevastopol, nobody should have illusions that the citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol or the Russian society could review this decision," Viktor Ozerov says

© Zurab Javakhadze/ITAR-TASS

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Majority of Russians positive about Crimea’s reunification with Russia — pollster

MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. No sanctions or additional demands can reverse Russia’s position on reunification with Crimea and Sevastopol, a senior parliamentarian from the Federation Council said on Monday.

"For us, this issue [reunification with Crimea and Sevastopol] is over once and for all. And no sanctions or additional demands to Russia will change it," said Viktor Ozerov, the chairman of the Russian upper house’s committee for defense and security.

"As for return of Crimea and Sevastopol, nobody should have illusions that the citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol or the Russian society could review this decision," he said while meeting with Italian counterpart, Senator Nicola Lattore.

He said reunification had come in strict compliance with the Russian Constitution and other international documents.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deals March 18, 2014.

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Crimea and Sevastopol

Military operation in Ukraine

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