MOSCOW
Ukraine's second largest port city, Sevastapol, voted Friday to join Russia and break links with Ukraine. The declaration by the city council came after the Crimean parliament also voted Thursday to be part of the Russian Federation. The decision will only come in force if it is approved by the Crimeans at a referendum which will be held in 10 days.
"Crimea administration's desire to hold a referendum, that is based on Crimean people's opinions, is natural and comprehensible. Russia will support the democratic and independent choice of Crimea and Sevastapol" said Russian Duma (parliament) speaker Sergei Naryshkin on Friday.
Sevastapol, located at the southwestern tip of the Crimean peninsula, is home to Russia's Black Sea fleet and Ukraine's Naval Forces Headquarters. According to Ukraine's 2001 national census, the majority of the population consists of Russians, 71.6 percent, and Ukrainians are second, 22.4 percent.
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