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Double standards should be excluded when assessing referendum in Crimea

Crimean first vice-premier Rustam Temirgaliev says double standards have become normal while assessing the situation in Crimea, and no international norm bans a referendum in any country

© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Fadeichev

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Lower house of Russian parliament forms observation mission at referendum in Crimea

SIMFEROPOL, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Crimea’s authorities believe that the OSCE should avoid double standards when assessing a referendum on the republic’s accession to Russia, Crimean first vice-premier Rustam Temirgaliev said.

The first vice-premier has commented on the OSCE statement saying it refused to send observers to the referendum in Crimea.

Temirgaliev said when the International Court of Justice took a decision on Kosovo in July 2010 the OSCE supported it.

“Double standards have become normal while assessing the situation in Crimea. No international norm bans a referendum in any country,” Temirgaliev said.

Earlier, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said he ruled out a possibility of sending observers to Crimea.

“A referendum in Crimea slated for March 16, 2014 runs counter the Constitution of Ukraine and should be considered illegitimate,” Burkhalter said.

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