I am sure some readers have at one time or another made such a proposition — probably in jest.
Well, the Russian-controlled Crimean government — in reality, Vladimir Putin — is dead serious in offering the Crimean people exactly such a “choice” in the upcoming referendum that is supposed to give the peninsula’s residents a chance to “decide fairly and freely their future,” according to a Reuters article in the Huffington Post. The Post says, in fact “there is no room on the ballot paper for voting ‘Nyet’ to control by Russia.”
The article explains:
The Crimean voter will have the right to choose only one of two options in the March 16 referendum which the region’s pro-Russian leadership, protected by Russian forces, announced earlier this month.
According to a format of the ballot paper, published on the parliament’s website, the first question will ask: “Are you in favour of the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a part of the Russian Federation?”
The second asks: “Are you in favour of restoring the 1992 Constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?”
At first glance, the second option seems to offer the prospects of the peninsula remaining within Ukraine.
But the 1992 national blueprint – which was adopted soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union and then quickly abolished by the young post-Soviet Ukrainian state – is far from doing that.
This foresees giving Crimea all the qualities of an independent entity within Ukraine – but with the broad right to determine its own path and choose relations with whom it wants – including Russia.
With the pro-Russian assembly already saying it wants to return Crimea to Russia, this second option only offers a slightly longer route to shifting the peninsula back under Russian control, analysts say.
The Post adds:
The option of asking people if they wish to stick with the status quo – in which Crimea enjoys autonomy but remains part of Ukraine – is not on offer.
Any mark in one of the boxes is regarded as a “Da” vote. Ballot papers will be regarded as spoiled if a voter fills in both boxes or indeed does not fill in either.
Those who stay away will also not influence the outcome, since the result will simply be based on the option preferred by a majority of those voting.
There is no third option available.
Read more here
Note: Readers may have noticed that the lead image shows the Crimea peninsula colorized in colors of three flags: Ukraine, Russia and Tatar over the Crimean flag. Many Crimean Tatars who make up about 12 percent of the population of the Black Sea peninsula are strongly opposed to falling under Russia’s control and want be governed from Kiev, according to Reuters.
Reuters reports “A Crimean Tatar leader told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the secession of Crimea from Ukraine to join Russia would violate an international treaty in which Russia, Britain and the United States vowed to keep Ukraine intact.”
Read more here.
In the meantime, the State Department has released a lengthy fact sheet on “Increased U.S. Cooperation with Ukraine.”
It covers:
“Reaffirming our Partnership,” “Immediate Assistance” and “Enhancing People-to-People Contacts.”
“Immediate Assistance” includes: Support for the May presidential elections, using DOD to organize a Humanitarian Assistance Planning Conference with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, support for asset recovery efforts and new technical support to help Ukraine with immediate economic management challenges.
Read more here
Lead image: www.shutterstock.com
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.