Crimean parliament declares independence from Ukraine

The Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council voted to adopt a declaration of independence from Ukraine during an extraordinary session on Tuesday.
Crimea are basing their decision to pursue their independence by following the example of Kosovo who in accordance with the United Nations International Court of Justice declared its independence on July 22, 2010.
“We, the members of the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council, with regard to the United Nations charter take into consideration the confirmation of the status of Kosovo by the United Nations International Court of Justice on July, 22, 2010, which says that the unilateral declaration of independence by a part of the country doesn’t violate any international norms.”
If the referendum scheduled for March 16 votes in favour of leaving Ukraine, then Crimea will be declared an independent and autonomous republic, according to a press statement from the parliament.
78 of 100 members of the parliament voted in favour of the declaration, paving the way for the upcoming referendum to join Russia.