Crimea marks two years of living with Russia

On March 16, Crimea is celebrating the second anniversary of reunification with Russia. Thousands of people took part in a demonstration in the streets of the city of Simferopol to mark the event.

Photo: AP photo

Putin's envoy in the Crimean Federal District Oleg Belavenets, the head of the Crimea Sergei Aksenov and Parliament Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov, took part in the demonstration. National communities of the peninsula, militia and Cossacks joined the march too.  

Thousands of Crimean people welcomed the parade. Many people lined up the roads holding Russian flags, balloons and flowers in their hands. The people were chanting: "Thank you!" "Hurrah!", "Crimea! Russia! Forever!" The demonstration ended at the square in front of the Crimean Parliament.

"This is the most important day in the Republic of Crimea for me, along with Victory Day. We are in our historic homeland. The Crimeans would vote for that again and again, for a 100 times,  if need be. Yet, this is not required, as we had had a legitimate referendum - once and for all. The Crimea is with Russia and there is no way back," said Aksenov, speaking to the people.

The Crimean region returned to Russia on the basis of a legitimate procedure, a national referendum, that was held on March 16, 2014, when 96.77 percent of Crimean residents voted to reunite with the Russian Federation.

Pravda.Ru

Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru