MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Head of Crimea’s government Sergei Aksenov greeted the Crimean residents with another anniversary of the reunification with Russia.
"It is not just an important state holiday, it is a day of our return home, the live history of the Crimean Spring," he wrote. "Each of us feels personal involvement in this history."
"Of course, during these three years we had not only success, but some mistakes and shortcomings, for which the Crimeans criticize the authorities correctly. We face many problems - from the big shortage of qualified staff in all the sectors to the low quality of roads," he said. "We do not hide the drawbacks and try to correct them promptly."
He thanked the Crimeans for trust, tolerance and love for Russia and Crimea, promising to continue joint efforts in bringing order to the peninsula.
Crimea’s reunification with Russia
After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests began in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence.
On March 16, 2014, a referendum on reuniting with Russia took place. Over 80% of voters participated in the plebiscite, most of them supporting the idea of reunification (96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol).
On March 18, 2014, President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The document passed Russia’s Federal Assembly (parliament) on March 21, 2014.