KIEV-
The Crimean parliament has voted that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents vote to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum on Sunday.
Crimea’s regional legislature on Tuesday adopted a “declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.”
The document specified that Crimea will become an independent state if its residents vote in favor of joining Russia in the referendum.
Western nations have said they will not recognize the vote as legitimate.
Ukraine’s acting president on Tuesday called for the formation of a national guard and for the mobilization of reserves and volunteers into the country’s armed forces to counter Russian military moves.
Oleksandr Turchynov asked the national parliament to approve a decision to turn the country’s Interior Ministry troops into a National Guard “to defend the country and citizens against any criminals, against external and internal aggression.”
Russian forces have strengthened their control over Ukraine’s Crimea region in the run-up to a referendum set for Sunday on whether to split off and become part of Russia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who will fly to the Washington to meet with Barack Obama on Wednesday, called on Western nations to defend Ukraine against a nation “that is armed to the teeth and that has nuclear weapons.”
Yanukovych, who fled last month after months of protests, said he would soon return to Ukraine.
