Скачать или смотреть Ballot boxes counted as Crimea polls close in Simferopol

(16 Mar 2014) Polls closed in the Crimea region of Ukraine on Sunday evening after citizens there voted on a contentious referendum on whether to secede from Ukraine - a ballot condemned by the United States and Europe as illegal.
The Crimea referendum offered voters the choice of seeking annexation by Russia or remaining in Ukraine with greater autonomy - and secession was expected to get overwhelming approval.
The hastily organised referendum was held in defiance of broad condemnation from the West and the acting Ukrainian government which have described the process as illegitimate.
Opponents of secession appeared to largely stay away on Sunday, denouncing the vote as a cynical power play and land grab by Russia.
But the head of the referendum committee in the Crimea region said more than 95 percent of voters have approved splitting off and joining Russia.
Mikhail Malishev said the initial result came after more than 50 percent of the ballots had been counted.


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