Maria Tobacco. The British foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tried to persuade the Russian Federation to return to the Crimea, Ukraine.

"Our appeal to Russia's consistent and clear: the annexation of the Crimea in 2014 was illegal and unlawful, and remains illegal and unlawful in March 2015. Russia should return to the Crimea, Ukraine, " reads the statement of the head of the British foreign office Philip Hammond on the occasion of the anniversary of the referendum on the annexation of Crimea to Russia.

Hammond said that the annexation of Crimea to Russia was in violation of all international norms and showed a complete disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"It is totally unacceptable for the Russian Federation to use force to change the borders. We do not recognize last year's fraudulent referendum, which, as admitted by the Russian President Putin, was planned as a Fig leaf for the occupation of foreign territory. Such behavior threatens international security, and is fraught with serious consequences to the legal order that protects the unity and sovereignty of all countries, " said Hammond.

help the British foreign office, the message Hammond, draws attention to the fact that the referendum was conducted in a very short time, without the involvement of the OSCE observers and in the suppression of opposition media.


Sevastopol and the Crimea became the Russian regions after the referendum in which an overwhelming number of voters (96, 77%) with a turnout of 83, 1%. The corresponding agreement was signed on 18 March, then it was approved by the State Duma and the Federation Council. They Also adopted the Federal constitutional law on education of 2 new regions of the Russian Federation - Republic of Crimea and cities of Federal significance Sevastopol. The head of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin both documents. Also before Putin said that the referendum in Crimea corresponds to the norms of international law and the UN Charter. Ukraine considers the Crimea her, but at the time occupied territory.

sections: Politics