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Crimea and Sevastopol

Russian troops are not undertaking any actions in Crimea - prime minister

SIMFEROPOL, March 14, /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea is not undertaking any active actions on the peninsula while local self-defence forces are guarding public order, Crimea’s Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov told journalists on Friday.

“Russian troops have been stationed here since the times of Suvorov and Kutuzov (the two outstanding military leaders in pre-revolutionary Russia),” Aksyonov said adding the Russian Black Sea Fleet had never left the peninsula since Ukraine became independent in 1991.

“The Russian troops are not taking part in any active actions in Crimea,” Aksyonov said commenting on Russian military presence on the peninsula.

“We are coordinating our actions with the Russian Black Sea Fleet on a number of life-support facilities,” the Crimean prime minister said.

He also told journalists that Crimea might join Russia as its constituent part already next week.

He explained that a relevant legal act was likely to be adopted next week, while Crimea’s full integration with Russia, including the adjustment of legislation could take up to 12 months.

“I believe that the transitional period will last for about a year. <…>It’s going to take up to twelve months the longest,” the Crimean prime minister stressed.

“We are not going to have independence. I believe that Crimea should enter Russia as its constituent entity,” Aksyonov said.

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