Election Silence Day Begins In Crimea Before March 16 Secession Referendum)

An election silence day begins Saturday in the Autonomous Ukrainian Republic of Crimea, where most residents are Russians, and the city of Sevastopol, which has a special status in Ukraine, prior to the March 16 secession referendum.

“However, being guided by international standards of organization of the voting process, including referendums, we decided that there should be ‘a day of silence’,” Polonsky said.

He said it means that Crimean media, including television, would see no campaigning for the autonomy to become or not become part of Russia, but that there would be no ban on urging residents to vote.

The Anschluss was overwhelmingly backed by most Austrians. The Nazi plebiscite was far from free and democratic but it reflected broad popular sentiment in both the Alt Reich and in Austria for unification. But the parallels between Crimea and Russia and Austria and Germany only go so far.

Germany effectively annexed a neighboring country. Russia is keen to re-annex part of another country that previously belonged to Russia. On the other hand, Austria was never a part of Germany and German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck preferred a “Little Germany” solution as opposed to the
“Greater Germany” solution favored by many German nationalists. From a historical viewpoint alone, Russia has a stronger case here than Germany.

Crimeans do not think a long-dead Soviet dictator’s bequest of them without their consent to another country should control their destiny and they are absolutely right. The West finds itself now in the unusual position of defending Nikita Khruschev’s edict rather the democratic principle of self-determination.

What brought us to the point? Its a very good question, indeed.

Oh come on. The territory of Ukraine was agreed to by treaty with Russia. Ukraine lived up to its part of the bargain, allowing the Russians their naval base, and giving up their nuclear arsenal in return for those GUARANTEES.
Russia is engaged in naked aggression.

If the Crimeans had debated the issue and held a real free and open referendum, with real options (NOT Yes, and Yes, even Hitler wasn’t that ridiculous), WITHOUT RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE, I would not be upset.

Why do only Russians get self determination? what about Ossetians, Chechens, Tatars, Chuvash, etc etc in RUSSIA. How about Basques, Walloons, Palestinians, Chiapas, and Aztlan? There are DOZENS of separatist movements in Europe alone. Do neighboring countries have the right to cross borders and “expediate” the situation?

The only reason this is happening NOW, is Putin was embarrassed because his sock puppet was tossed out in Ukraine, and this is pay back. He has the EXACT SAME excuse to invade Latvia, Lithuania Estonia, Finland and even Poland. Russian minorities, once part of Russia.

And despite the sophistry and excuses, Putin is doing this BECAUSE HE CAN. Hes invaded a weak neighbor, while the US is ruled by a moron, and the rest of the world can’t be bothered.

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