Russian parliament to accept referendum in Crimea

Both chambers of the Russian parliament will approve a motion to join the Russian Crimea.

This is the first official sign that Moscow supports the actions of the new authorities of the Crimea, who announced Thursday peninsula was the separation of Ukraine would hold a referendum on March 16 to confirm the decision.

Valentina Matviyenko, spokesman for the Federal Council (upper house of Parliament), compared to the Crimea with the next survey of Scotland, which is scheduled for this summer, and (unlike in Ukraine), with the agreement of the authorities in London. It said the referendum was in full compliance with international law.

In the Duma, the lower house of Parliament, its president Sergei Naryshkin said lawmakers would “respect the historic election of the people of Crimea”.