Britain Condemns Russia's Recognition Of Crimea As A Sovereign State

by Benson Agoha

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has released a statement condemning Russia for recognizing Crimea as a Soveveign State.

This followed Monday's Declaration of Independence by Crimea's parliament, after Sunday's referendum saw some 96.77% of Crimean population give a 'Yes' Vote to rejoin Russia, which they consider their motherland.

The Crimean parliament then asked the United Nations and the world to recognise their decision and treat Crimea as an independent state, separate from Ukraine.

Russia's Lower House, the State Duma then passed a statement welcoming the Crimean people's decision to join the Russian Federation, and expressed hope for peace and harmony on the peninsular during the transitional period, media reports by RT said.

RT said the statement was prepared by all four parliamentary caucuses and submitted by Lower House chairman Sergey Naryshkin, calling Sunday's referendum “a free demonstration of the people’s will.”

But a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it does not recognise referendum or its outcomes, saying it is not legal.

The FCO said "The United Kingdom, in common with the European Union and the majority of the international community, does not recognise the 16th March Crimea referendum or its outcome as legal or legitimate."

It said the UK condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s "flagrant disregard of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," adding "For the UK and her allies the Crimea remains part of Ukraine."

The FCO said the world was witnessing a clear attempt to pave the way for the annexation of part of the sovereign territory of an independent European state, through military force and an illegal and illegitimate referendum.

"The UK calls again on Russia to enter into dialogue with Ukraine and with the international community to resolve this crisis through diplomacy and in accordance with international law, not to exacerbate it further through unilateral and provocative actions," the FCO said, warning that continuing to ignore those calls will bring "serious consequences for Russia."

The FCO said the government will urgently consider "our response to this latest escalation with our allies and partners, including at the European Council this week."

Earlier, the Foreign Secretary's Office released a statement in which he confirmed steps being considered as possible responses to Russia actions in Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary said he was pleased that to reach agreement on measures, including asset freezes and visa bans, particularly for individuals not just in Crimea but also in Russia, including in the armed forces and in the Parliament.
"People who are associated with the decisions that Russia has made about Crimea." the statement said.

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