The Crimean Supreme Council (Parliament) has today approved Crimea's declaration of independence, according to an announcement on the Council's website. The declaration of independence (which has been passed last week, pending yesterday's referendum) has been approved by 85 out of 100 MPs.

The Crimean Parliament has asked the UN and all the world states to recognize the peninsula's independence from Ukraine. Crimean authorities have also asked Moscow to consider their request to join the Russian Federation as a constituent republic.

According to the official count of yesterday's referendum, 96.77% of voters supported joining Russia. 2.51% voted for remaining as a republic within Ukraine. Turnout was at 83.1%. Referendum was held both in autonomous Crimea and in the city of Sevastopol.

The figures imply that Crimeans not belonging to the ethnic Russian majority (which makes up 58% of the population in autonomous Crimea, and 72% in Sevastopol) have also voted in favour of secession from Ukraine. Both the Ukrainian government and the Crimean Tatar organizations had called to boycott the vote.

Russian Duma to consider annexation on Friday

Russian Parliament's lower chamber is expected to consider a bill on annexing Crimea to Russia on Friday.

Crimean authorities hold that the full annexation process could last some two weeks. The Crimean MPs have agreed to change the peninsula's official time zone on March 30th. Until now, Crimea (and the whole of Ukraine) used the Eastern European time. From March 30th onwards, Crimea will be using Moscow time.

Another step that Crimean authorities have said will be taken is the adoption of Russian ruble instead of current Ukrainian hryvnia.