SIMFEROPOL, 17 sep. The first vice-speaker of the Crimean parliament, Efim Fiks, said that the Crimeans are indifferent to the refusal of the European Parliament to recognize the elections on the territory of the peninsula, and compared the position of the MEPs with the barking of the dog Moska from Ivan Krylov's fable «The Elephant and the Pug.» approved an amendment calling on European countries to apply sanctions against EU citizens for participating in the observation of elections in Crimea, which he called «illegal.»
«We are absolutely indifferent to their point of view. The assessment and reaction of the European Parliament to the elections in Crimea give a damn. This whole situation is reminiscent of Moska's barking from Krylov's fable. will affect the conduct and results of the elections, «- said RIA Novosti Fix.
According to him, the elections in Crimea will take place despite threats, intimidation and provocations from the outside. Voting in the Duma and other elections on a single voting day takes place this year from 17 to 19 September. The State Duma is elected for a five-year term under a mixed electoral system: 225 deputies are elected from party lists, another 225 — from single-mandate constituencies in one round.
A group of observers from several countries of the world arrived in Crimea for the elections. 14 parties have registered federal lists of candidates for the State Duma. According to the draw, in the ballot they will be arranged in the following order: Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Greens, Liberal Democratic Party, New People, United Russia, Fair Russia — For Pravda, Yabloko, Party of Growth, Russian Freedom Party and Justice, Communists of Russia, Civic Platform, Green Alternative, Rodina and Party of Pensioners. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimean voters and 95 , 6% of Sevastopol residents spoke in favor of joining Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea to be its own, but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically, in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is «finally closed.»