Europe

Mikhail Gorbachev supports Crimea referendum

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Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has expressed support for the recent referendum in Crimea.

“If until now Crimea had been joined to Ukraine because of Soviet laws that were taken without asking the people, then now the people (of Crimea) have decided to rectify this error,” Gorbachev told the Interfax news agency on Monday.

Gorbachev described the referendum as a “success that responded to the expectations of Crimeans” and urged the world to respect the results.

The former Soviet leader also commented on the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union against some Russian officials.

Gorbachev said the will of the people in the region should be welcomed rather than punished.

“For sanctions to be imposed there should be a very serious basis and they must be supported by the United Nations,” he said, adding, however, “The possible taking of Crimea into Russian territory does not constitute such a basis.”

On Monday, US President Barack Obama issued an executive order that imposes sanctions on 11 Russian, Crimean, and Ukrainian individuals for “contributing to the situation in Ukraine.”

Obama’s order freezes any assets of the officials that are inside the United States or “hereafter come within the United States.” The order also bans the individuals from travelling to the United States.

The sanctions came after nearly 97 percent of voters in Crimea voted on March 16 to join Russia.

The European Union has also imposed sanctions on 21 individuals, including three senior Russian commanders, the prime minister of Crimea, a deputy speaker of the Duma and other senior officials.

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