KIEV, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian prosecutors have challenged the decision by Crimea's Supreme Council and Sevastopol's Town Hall to approve the Declaration of Independence of Crimea and Sevastopol.

"The demand for their annulment has been forwarded to the Kiev district court," the press service of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office reported on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday it was reported that Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced protest over a statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry saying that the declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was lawful. Ukraine’s diplomatic service summoned temporary charge d’affaires of Russia in Ukraine Andrei Vorobyov for giving explanations.

 

Russia’s stance

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the decision of Crimean parliament on adopting the declaration of independence is totally lawful.

“March 11, the declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has been adopted by the resolution of Crimean Supreme Council, which stipulates that, in case on the March 16 referendum a decision is taken to join Russia, the Crimea would be declared an independent and sovereign state with republican form of government,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“The Russian Federation will fully respect the results of free expression of will of the Crimean nations in the course of the referendum, at which, as it is known, OSCE observers are invited,” the diplomatic service stressed.

 

Crimea’s parliament adopts declaration of independence

March 11, Crimea’s parliament has approved a declaration on the republic’s independence in order to hold a referendum. “The declaration is indispensable to hold a referendum on Crimea’s accession to Russia as a constituent entity,” the source told Itar-Tass.

A total of 78 deputies out of 100 parliamentarians voted for the declaration.

Under the document, “if Crimean residents vote for the accession of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia a constituent entity, Crimea will be declared an independent republic after the referendum.”

“Based on the results of the referendum, Crimea will address Russia to accede to it as a constituent entity,” the declaration says.

Crimea will be a democratic, secular and multinational state, the declaration specifies.