Kyiv protests against Russian statement on Crimean independence declaration

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has protested against the statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 11, 2014 to recognize as lawful the so-called "declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol." The decision approved by the Crimean Supreme Council is unconstitutional, illegal and void, ukrinform.ua reports.

The ministry said this in a statement released by the ministry's information policy department on Tuesday.

"This so-called 'document' violates national legislation of Ukraine and the provisions of international documents, including the statement of the President of the UN Security Council of July 20, 1993, which, as we know, was unanimously supported by all members of the UN Security Council, including the Russian Federation," reads the document.

Ukraine strongly condemns Russia's direct intervention in the internal affairs of the country. Russia's actions directly contradict the fundamental principles of international law and the generally recognized principles of cohabitation, reads the statement.