Crimea Declares Independence Ahead of Popular Vote on Secession

The parliament of Crimea, a majority ethnic Russian region within Ukraine, declared independence Tuesday ahead of a popular vote on secession and annexation by Russia. The declaration appeared to be the latest attempt to shore up the legal basis of the upcoming referendum, which is scheduled for Sunday but has been declared unconstitutional by the country’s central leadership in Kiev. A representative of the regional parliament’s press office said that 78 of 100 deputies voted to declare independence. The text of the declaration, published on the parliament’s website, claims that the action is in accordance with international law, specifically citing a 2010 ruling by the International Court of Justice that affirmed Kosovo had the right to declare independence from Serbia.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140311/188317029/Crimea-Declares-Independence-Ahead-of-Popular-Vote-on-Secession.html