The secession of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from Ukraine was preceded by an Ukraine-wide political crisis and by months-long anti-presidential and anti-government events, which in February 2014 resulted in the removal of V. F. Yanukovich from the position of the President of the country. The very first actions of the opposition that came to power in Kiev brought out the protest of the Crimean population, which is mostly Russian-speaking.
After mass rallies and popular unrest which took place all over the peninsula, on March 6, 2014, the government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea made a decision to conduct an all-Crimean referendum of self-determination.
Two questions were put to the vote of the citizens of the republic: “Are you in favor of the reunion of Crimea with Russia as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation?” and “Are you in favor of the restoration of the operation of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Crimea and of the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?” The ballots were printed in three languages, Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar.
The reunion of Crimea with Russia as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation got the votes of 96.77% of the electorate, and the expanded autonomy within Ukraine, of 2.51%. Voter turnout amounted to 83.1%.
In Sevastopol 95.6 % voted for joining Russia, 3.37% for autonomy within Ukraine. Voter turnout in Sevastopol reached 89.5%.
