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Crimea and Sevastopol

Many Crimean Tatars participate in referendum, turnout higher than at previous election

SIMFEROPOL, March 16, 14:59 /ITAR-TASS/. The turnout at a referendum in Crimea is very high, Crimean Tatars are also participating in the voting, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov told reporters after a visit to a polling station in the Crimean city of Simferopol on Sunday.

“Yes, they are coming partially, Crimean Tatars are voting,” he said in reply to a question about participation of representatives of the Crimean Tatar community in the plebiscite.

In general, he noted that “the turnout went up 2-3 times as compared with elections in 2012.” In his words, up to 25 percent of voters have already voted in several districts, this figure reaches 40 percent at several polling stations.

Meanwhile, the turnout has made 30 percent in the Crimean city of Bakhchisaray with predominated Crimean Tatar population.

“I believe that that all voters may vote already by around 6pm,” Aksyonov said with irony, noting that all polling stations will be working as they should work right until 8pm on Sunday.

Aksyonov visited polling stations situated at Simferopol motor transport college accompanied by a delegation from State Duma lower house of parliament led by Leonid Slutsky. The Russian lawmaker also noted a high turnout. “Everything goes on very quickly. A very high turnout is impressive since early morning,” he said. “The voting process is well-organised. We did not find any shortcomings,” the deputy said.

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Referendum in Crimea

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