Crisis in Crimea: Armed groups seize another airport

Putin defends pro-Moscow region’s decision to hold referendum.

BERLIN/ WASHINGTON/ MOSCOW/ KIEV: An armed pro-Russian force wearing military uniforms bearing no designated markings sealed off another military airport in Ukraine’s Crimea on Sunday, a defence ministry spokesman on the peninsula said.

The 80 or so-strong group, who were supporting 50 civilians, blocked off the entrance to the airport near the village of Saki and established machine-gun posts along the landing strip, the spokesman, Vladislav Seleznyov, told Reuters by telephone. The civilian group, who were wielding sticks and clubs, sought to break into the airport’s control terminal, he said.

Russian forces have taken control of strategic points in Crimea, including Belbek military airport and the main civilian airport in Simferopol, without bloodshed following the overthrow of Ukraines President Viktor Yanukovich. There have been several standoffs with Ukrainian forces at military installations but the Ukrainians have not put up armed resistance.

Meanwhile, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin defended breakaway moves by the pro-Russian leaders of Crimea on Sunday in a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron, according to the Kremlin.

The Moscow-backed Crimean parliament has declared the Ukrainian region part of Russia and announced a March 16 referendum to confirm this.

“Vladimir Putin underlined in particular that the steps taken by Crimea’s legitimate authorities are based on international law and aimed at guaranteeing the legitimate interests of the peninsula’s population,” the Kremlin said.

“The Russian president also drew the attention of his interlocutors to the lack of any action by the present authorities in Kiev to limit the rampant behaviour of ultra-nationalists,” it added in a written statement.

A statement from the German government, however, said the referendum violated Ukraine’s constitution and was against international law.

The United States, in a statement on Sunday, also announced it will not recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia if residents of the region vote to leave Ukraine in a referendum next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.