The parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea will meet for an extraordinary session on Wednesday after the legislature's speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said independence from Ukraine may be discussed, according to an official statement.
The parliament will discuss the political situation in Crimea, according to the statement.
Tension came a few days after Konstantinov said Crimea could part from Ukraine if the instability in the country continues, while he was holding talks in Russia.
A group of 300 pro-Russia demonstrators gathered in front of the local parliament on Tuesday, demanding Ukraine's government be declared illegal, a return to 1992 Crimea Constitution and a referendum over Crimea's status.
At the same time, a group of nearly 200 Crimean Tatars, who have supported Ukraine's opposition since the beginning of crisis, staged a counter-demonstration.
The Crimean Tatars said they would respond to all moves to part Crimea from Ukraine and attach it to Russia.
Meanwhile, Leonid Slutsky, head of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) visited the capital Simferopol of the Crimea with a delegation on Tuesday.
Slutsky said they supported Ukraine's territorial integrity but if Crimea's people wanted a referendum or Crimean Parliament had a demand to be tied to Russia, Russia can make a decision.
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