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Crimea and Sevastopol

Lower house of Russian parliament forms observation mission at referendum in Crimea

State Duma observers are expected to stay in Crimea’s Autonomous Republic from March 15 to March 17

© AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

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MOSCOW, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. The State Duma, lower house of Russia’s parliament, has formed an observation mission to monitor a referendum on Crimea’s accession to Russia scheduled for March 16.

The delegation will involve 25 people, among them 12 deputies from United Russia party, 4 deputies from the Communist Party and deputies from the LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) and A Just Russia party. The observation mission will be led by chairman of the State Duma Committee for the CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Slutsky.

State Duma observers are expected to stay in Crimea’s Autonomous Republic from March 15 to March 17.

The Crimean parliament on Thursday, March 6, ruled to hold a referendum on accession to Russia on March 16. Earlier it was scheduled for March 30. Two questions will be asked at the referendum:

1. Do you support Crimea’s reunification with Russia as its constituent member?

2. Do you support the restoration of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea of 1992 and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?

The Russian Federation Council said it would support Crimea’s decision to join Russia if its people vote so in the referendum.

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