The Verkhovna Rada of Crimea decided to secede from the country and become part of Russia.
The Crimean parliament resolved 'to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation'. In a statement on its website, parliament said it had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin 'to start the procedure' of formally allowing Crimea to join the Russian Federation. If Russia agrees to Crimea's request, the Crimean people will be asked two questions in the 16 March referendum, the statement says:
1) Are you in favour of reuniting Crimea with Russia as a subject of the Russian Federation?
2) Are you in favour of retaining the status of Crimea as part of Ukraine?
