Crimeans to have Russian annexation referendum March 16th.

What do you call it when a vote is rigged even when it maybe didn’t even have to be?

Lawmakers in the embattled Crimean region of Ukraine decided Thursday to hold a referendum March 16 on whether Crimea should become part of Russia, a move likely to further ratchet up tensions.

“This is our response to the disorder and lawlessness in Kiev,” Sergei Shuvainikov, a member of the local Crimean legislature, said. “We will decide our future ourselves.”

The parliament in Crimea, which enjoys a degree of autonomy under current Ukrainian law, voted 78 with eight abstentions in favor of holding the referendum. Local voters will also be given the choice of deciding to remain part of Ukraine, but with enhanced local powers.

…because I do suspect that Russia could actually win that vote without cheating (although of course they will cheat, for safety’s sake). There is, after all, a reason why the Crimea ‘enjoys a degree of autonomy under current Ukrainian law:’ the breakup of the Soviet Union was particularly problematical in Ukraine. It’s not shocking to think that the Crimeans might decide that Russia is their least-bad choice.

None of which excuses the Russians trying to rebuild their imperial state, of course.  We weren’t joking when we called it the Evil Empire.

Moe Lane

8 thoughts on “Crimeans to have Russian annexation referendum March 16th.”

  1. “What do you call it when a vote is rigged…?”
    .
    What do you call it when a legitimate, democratically elected government is overthrown?

    1. The only interesting thing is that the historically accurate term for this, plebiscite, is not being used.
      .
      Given the history of Russians, the american left, and rigged plebiscites .. I am not surprised to see “referendum” substituted.
      .
      Calling a leopard a spotted panther doesn’t change its’ stripes, eh?
      .
      Mew

    2. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

    3. So now it’s okay for Russia to invade, because the, people of Ukraine overthrew their “legitimate, democratically elected government”

      Though I question how legitimate since it was well known Putin maneuvered to have a Pro-Russia govt. elected.

      1. Just like the Soviet Union used to pull when setting up third world hellholes as client states, eh?
        .
        Mew

  2. “What do you call it when a vote is rigged even when it maybe didn’t even have to be?”

    Just another Chicago municipal election?

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