On March 16, 2014 the all-Crimean Referendum was held.
On March 16, 2014, the people of the peninsula made an independent and conscious choice, voting in favour of forever being with Russia. To this day it remains one of the most striking and sincere examples of a true triumph of the will of the people and democracy.
At the referendum, 96.77% of Crimeans voted for reunification with Russia, the turnout was 83.1%. In Sevastopol, the relevant figures were 95.6% and 89.5%, respectively.
The voting was monitored by 135 international observers from 23 countries and 1,240 representatives of local organisations. All noted that the referendum was held without violations and in full conformity with international standards and democratic procedure.
Based on the results of the free expression of will by Crimeans, a treaty was signed on the incorporation of the two new regions into the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the City of Federal Significance, Sevastopol.
President Putin: "In people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia. This firm conviction is based on truth and justice and was passed from generation to generation"
(from the Address (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20603) by the President of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2014).
Since the reunification, Crimea has undergone fundamental changes, becoming one of the most dynamically developing regions in the country and the entire continent. The atmosphere of interreligious accord has been maintained on the peninsula, and the rights of all of its ethnic groups are observed without exception.
The processes that have occurred during the last ten years, steady socio-economic development and enduring peace in the multi-ethnic Crimea confirm that the people of this region were correct when making the historic choice in favour of reunification with Russia.
On attempts to interfere in Russia's presidential election.
Russian MFA Telegram Channel March 16, 2024
Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova:
We have been keeping a close eye on attempts to interfere in Russia’s presidential election.
Here is another example of idiocy and audacity. The UK embassy published a post alleging that Russia lacked legal grounds for holding the election in Crimea and the new regions since they all belong to Kiev.
This is the question I have for the UK Embassy: when was the last time your ambassador visited our Foreign Ministry headquarters? Seeing him is hardly a pleasure for us, but unless you stop acting this way, we may need to summon him as a cautionary measure.
We understand London’s hysteria: despite all the Western trickery, the election is proceeding smoothly in Russia and abroad, and the voter turnout has been notably high, according to the Central Election Commission.
Not only did they spoil their virtual ballot with their nonsensical scribblings, but also demonstrated their phantom neo-colonial substance for all to see.
The choice of who to live with is up to the people of Russia, not the slightly delusional British crown.
The people of Crimea made their choice back in 2014, exactly 10 years ago, while the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions spoke out in 2022.
This clear expression of democracy is something the UK can only dream of. Approval ratings for both the ruling Conservative party and Labour are at a record low among the people of Britain.
The Foreign Office fails to come to terms with the fact that the time when London could decide who owns what is gone, the time when it could draw borders as it pleased based on the divide and rule principle, which has brought about many conflicts we face in today's world.
This explains their impotent rage and their attempts to incite their puppets from the Kiev regime to target civilians with terrorist attacks, while the embassy openly interferes in domestic affairs.
My advice to the UK diplomatic service would be to focus on finding a solution to the issue of the Malvinas (Falkland) islands under international law. By the way, has Downing Street already condemned the manipulated photo of a member of the royal household from the Buckingham palace as an example of outrageous misinformation? Have they pointed their finger at Kate Middleton for the whole world to see? Have they found the Skripals? Get back to work, then.