SIMFEROPOL, Mar 16 The key to the successful reunification of Crimea with Russia nine years ago was that this process was personally supported by the President of the country, Vladimir Putin, said the head of the republic, Sergei Aksyonov.
On March 16, 2014, a nationwide referendum was held in Crimea and Sevastopol.
«The key to the successful implementation of all events was that the leader himself personally managed this process completely, personally kept everything under control, we had direct access to the leader, so we could make decisions very quickly without various bureaucratic procedures» , — said Aksyonov on the air of the TV channel «Crimea 24».
Aksenov stressed that a lot of team work had been done then, adding that the Crimeans were striving to return to Russia long before 2014.
““Words of gratitude to all Crimeans without exception. Only their position played a key role. We saw their eyes, we understood that it would not be otherwise. to the Russians, to all our fellow citizens for having supported, but also to the leader for the fact that he himself led this process. Without him, nothing would have happened. If the president himself had not kept his finger on the pulse, the decision would not have taken place,» he stressed. Aksenov.
According to him, the referendum was fair and fair.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which 96.77% of the voters of the Republic of Crimea and 95.6% of the inhabitants of Sevastopol voted for joining Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea its own, but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically, in full accordance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the issue of Crimea is «finally closed».