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Crimea and Sevastopol

Observers confirm high turnout after start of referendum in Crimea

“People have been coming massively to polling stations since early morning, this situation had not been observed since Soviet times,” chairman of the committee for referendum said

© ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasil'nikov

SIMFEROPOL, March 16, /ITAR-TASS/. An extremely high turnout is reported at a referendum in Crimea immediately after polling stations opened, Kryminform news agency cited observers as saying from polling stations in different districts of the peninsula on Sunday.

According to observers, people have even lined up at some polling stations, but election committees are doing their best so that coming voters will have an opportunity to vote calmly.

Representatives of district and territorial election committees also confirmed a high turnout. They also stated that they were fully prepared to provide for voting of all local residents.

“In traditions of Crimean residents to participate actively in voting,” republican Minister of Information Dmitry Polonsky told Kryminform. “A high turnout at polling stations is traditional for Crimea. This has always happened, moreover, this happens today at such epoch-making moment for Crimea,” the minister said.

“People have been coming massively to polling stations since early morning, this situation had not been observed since Soviet times,” chairman of the committee for referendum in the Crimean Supreme Council Mikhail Malyshev said.

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Referendum in Crimea

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