The Crimean parliament has approved a declaration on independence on Tuesday in a move that severs ties with the current Ukrainian regime and lays the ground for joining Russia.

      The document passed by an overwhelming majority, 78 MPs out of 81, is available on the website of the legislature. Citing the right to self-determination, the act makes references to the advisory opinion of the UN’s International Court of Justice that ruled in 2010 that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was not an illegal move.

      The Russian Foreign Ministry has welcomed the declaration.

      The chairman of the parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, earlier announced that 80 percent of the local population favoured accession to Russia.

      Konstantinov cited the results of the focus groups conducted a week before the referendum that is expected to decide the future of the peninsula in Ukraine with a large ethnic Russian majority.

      According to Konstantinov, the republic can sustain itself with any support from Kiev.

      He accused the current regime of blocking the accounts of the local treasury which has left the autonomous republic financially stranded.

      Konstantinov said they are working on developing alternative energy sources and expect support from Russia.

      Crimea is expected to use two currencies for some time after joining Russia, said the chairman of the Crimean legislature.

      According to Vladimir Konstantinov, both the rouble and the hryvna must be allowed to circulate because the population has accumulated a lot of hryvnas.

      However, in case the Crimean people vote for accession to Russia on the March 16 referendum, the salaries will be paid in roubles.

      Earlier, Russia-IC reported that the European Union is expected to introduce sanctions against Russia starting from March 17, according to Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

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