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Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance

Briefings

Update on the situation in Ukraine

18 March 2014

Over the last few months, events in Ukraine have been changing rapidly.  In recent days we have seen the people of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea voting in a referendum in favour of seceding from Ukraine and becoming a part of the Russian Federation and a declaration of independence by the Crimean Parliament (whose authority is not recognised by Ukraine).  The referendum and declaration of independence have been categorised as illegal under Ukrainian law, as the Ukrainian Constitution does not allow Crimea to organise a referendum on the modification of the territorial configuration of Ukraine.   Today, following an accession request by the Parliament in Crimea, we have seen the Russian President and the representatives of Crimea signing an agreement on the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation, which is stated to take immediate effect and is due to be ratified by the Constitutional Court and the Parliament of the Russian Federation.

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