MOSCOW, April 15. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has signed an order appointing Sergey Aksyonov interim head of the Republic of Crimea. The document dated April 14 that came into effect from the day of signing has been published on the legal information portal on Tuesday.

On Monday, the president met with Aksyonov in his residence in Non-Ogaryovo, where he informed the then prime minister of Crimea about the intention to appoint him as the Republic’s head.

“The Constitution of the Republic of Crimea has been adopted, and according with the existing legislation of Russia it is necessary to appoint an interim head of the Republic. Such an order will be signed today. I’m asking you to accept this proposal,” the president told Sergey Aksyonov.

Aksyonov pledged to justify the president’s trust, who replied that he didn’t doubt it.

Vladimir Putin stressed that Aksyonov “has done much for the reunification of Crimea with Russia”. “For this, the Crimeans and the whole country are grateful to you,” Putin added.

The Russian leader noted that Aksyonov had even more to do as Crimea’s head, since its economy is in a state of neglect. “Crimea was artificially converted into a beneficiary region, and in order to overcome this situation, there is much to do, to work with the same patience as you’ve done it until now, to work professionally and getting the most of it,” the president emphasized.

 

Aksyonov becomes interim head of Crimea

February 27, the deputies of Crimean parliament elected Sergey Aksyonov as the chairman of the council of ministers of the republic, dismissing Anatoliy Mogilyov from that post.

In March, Crimea has adopted the declaration of independence, and later, on the referendum, which took place March 16, 96.77% of the peninsula’s residents taking part in the poll expressed their will to join Russia. March 18, Crimea and the city of Sevastopol became the 84th and 85th sub-federal entities of the Russian Federation, respectively.

April 11, the parliament of Crimea unanimously approved the republic’s Constitution. In addition, the deputies addressed a request to the Russian president asking to support their initiative on holding elections to the Crimean State Council and the legislature of Sevastopol in September 2014.

Sergey Aksyonov stated then that he was ready to be interim head of the republic and to balance it with the post of prime minister of Crimea.

 

Elections of Crimean MPs and governor

The Russian president noted that the elections to the Crimean parliament would take place on the single voting day September 14 and asked if Crimea was ready for holding elections in September.

Sergey Aksyonov assured the president that Crimea was ready. “I’m convinced that the elections will take place within the terms, which we spoke about today,” Putin said.

Aksyonov informed that “at present, the Russian passports are being issued in the amount of 20 thousand per day, there is no reason to worry, the elections will take place as planned, and all this would be in compliance with the Russian legislation”.