Crimean Parliament votes to become part of Russia

The Crimean Parliament has voted to join the Russian Federation prior to the referendum on the status of the autonomy. This is a logical move, as it relieves tension on the peninsula and brings certainty for the international community, Deputy Secretary of the Public Chamber of Russia, Vladislav Grib told Pravda.Ru.

"This decision may ease the situation on the peninsula. I have just returned from there. Both the Parliament and residents of the Crimea need certainty. I believe that this step will defuse the situation and give clearer understanding of what legally elected deputies want. Afterwards, this decision will be discussed at a referendum," he said.

Vladislav Grib believes that this decision will be a signal for the international community.

"This is a clear step for the international community to understand Russia. Should the results of the referendum be positive, the majority of the population support the idea, there will be adequate negotiations conducted with European partners, because it goes about the realization of people's rights to self-determination," Vladislav Grib said.

In turn, first deputy head of the Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Duma representative at the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Vyatkin, believes that citizens of Crimea have the right to determine their own destiny at a referendum.

"The people of the Crimea, under the condition of uncertainty, powerlessness, the illegitimate seizure of power in Kiev, against the backdrop of destabilization of the situation on the peninsula, in order to protect citizens and ensure safety, the people have the right to independently determine their fate at a referendum and make the decision the Crimeans see fit," said Dmitry Vyatkin.