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Crimea and Sevastopol

Russian compatriots in Asia-Pacific consider Crimea decision historic

8th regional conference of Russians resident in the Asia-Pacific Region adopted a statement in New Delhi on Tuesday

NEW DELHI, March 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian compatriots living in the Asia-Pacific region regard Crimea’s referendum as a very important, historic decision.

The situation in Ukraine is a “large-scale encroachment on human rights and fundamental freedoms, which is unprecedented in modern Europe”, says a statement of the 8th regional conference of Russians resident in the Asia-Pacific Region adopted in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Participating delegates from the Russian communities of Mongolia, South Korea, China, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Nepal, New Zealand, Australia and Japan blamed the responsibility for the latest developments on “radical nationalist elements in the Ukrainian opposition which Ukraine’s new authorities did not manage or did not want to curb”.

“It is quite natural that this anti-Russian onslaught resulted in the latest developments in the republic of Crimea and in Ukraine’s south-eastern regions,” they said, referring to “mass persecutions against the Russian language and oppression of the Russian people in Central and Western Ukraine”.

The delegates said: “Crimeans knew very well that Russia would not leave them in the lurch and would not abandon Russian compatriots face to face with that new illegitimate authorities controlling Kiev at the moment.”

“Most participants in the referendum backed Crimea’s reunification with Russia,” they said. “This is a very important step within the historical context which should be reckoned with.”

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Crimea and Sevastopol

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