MOSCOW, May 11. /TASS/. Residents of the Kherson region should decide for themselves whether or not to appeal for the region to become part of Russia, moreover, such a possibility should have a clear legal justification, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"Certainly, whether such an appeal should be or not [to become part of the Russian Federation], that is the decision of the residents of the Kherson region after all, and it is also the residents of the region who should determine their fate," Peskov said.

According to him, in addition, "this is an issue that should be clearly and thoroughly examined and evaluated by lawyers and legal experts." "Such a fateful decision should have an absolutely clear legal background, a legal justification, be absolutely legitimate, just as it was in the case of Crimea," the spokesman added.

In response to a clarifying question about whether the Kremlin thought it was right to hold a referendum in the region, Peskov said, "I said what I wanted to say. I didn't say anything about a referendum."

Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that the leadership of the Kherson region intends to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin for the region's incorporation into the Russian Federation.