SEVASTOPOL, March 12, /ITAR-TASS/. Preparations for a referendum on self-determination of Crimea are in full swing the Sevastopol and the process is past the point of non-return, Acting Mayor of the city, Dmitry Belik said Wednesday in an interview with Kryminform and Itar-Tass news agencies.
“The ballots have been printed and preparations are in full swing,” he said. “A total of 192 electoral commissions have been set up, and the voters’ cabins and ballot boxes have been prepared.”
“We’re making explanations for the voters and appealing to them to come and vote for historic justice we’ve been deprived of for 23 year (since Ukraine’ secession from the USSR in 1991 - Itar-Tass),” Belik said.
“For most of that time, we put up with what was taking place around us but suddenly we saw the manifestations of overt fascism,” he said.
“We’ve passed the point of non-return and we’re well on the way to reuniting with Russia today,” Belik said.
He pointed out the fact that the number of crimes in Sevastopol has reduced by a factor of 2.5 over the past two weeks.
“Russia’s support we’re getting today is an important factor of stability,” Belik said.
“We’re thankful to the Russian Federation for lending us a helping hand at the time of trouble when despair was about to overwhelm us,” he said.