High percentage of ballots cast in favor of joining Russia expected - Crimean MP
15 March 2014, 20:29 -- As the referendum in Crimea is nearing and preparations for the vote are well underway, Sergei Tsekov, the Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Supreme Council, First Deputy Leader of the Russian Unity party and Crimea's Russian community leader, talked to the Voice of Russia and shared his opinion about the upcoming referendum.
Tomorrow is the voting day. Is Crimea prepared for its March 16th referendum?
Yes, we are fully prepared. All election commissions have been set up, ballot papers printed, foreign monitors keep arriving, and the situation is calm. Given overwhelmingly pro-Russian sentiment in the population, we expect the percentage of those casting their ballots in favour of joining Russia to be really high.
Today is no-campaigning day. Is everybody observing it? Have there been any provocations?
None at all. Earlier, some moves were made against the referendum; leaflets against the plebiscite were handed out. Crimean Tatars protested, too, but that was a peaceful protest. So, there's been nothing out of the ordinary.
We realize, of course, that provocations are basically likely both ahead of and after the referendum. So, we keep our self-defence units on alert, and we are in permanent touch with all of Crimea's districts, including the remotest ones to handle problems, if these should arise.
You have said many voters are likely to cast their ballots for joining Russia. But what will happen if the world community refuses to recognize the referendum results?
We have known, of course, of all the statements to that end by the United States and the European Union. But what matters most to us is the protection of Crimea against the destructive events in Kiev and Ukraine, in general. We knew that once those so-called revolutionaries staged a coup and toppled the legitimate President and government, they would unavoidably make for Crimea. We had to protect the people of Crimea against that. We realize that the West will not recognize the results of the referendum for some time, but they will eventually have to recognize them because these will prove absolutely convincing.
If a majority of Crimeans vote for joining Russia, what would be your priorities right after the referendum?
We would then like to be quickly included in Russia as a territorial entity. This will be followed by a transition period of up to several years. But the sooner that period is over, the better both for Crimea and Russia. Then, we should ask not only the Crimeans if they are prepared for a certain period of trials and tribulations, but also the citizens of Russia if they are also prepared to endure this kind of period. But judging by almost daily manifestations in Russian cities in support of Crimea, they certainly are. And we are greatly to them for that.
Maria Balyabina
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