300 000 CRIMEANS DEMAND REFERENDUM

SIMFEROPOL, February 5 (Itar-Tass) -- The collection of signatures in support of a referendum on the state status of the Russian language is over in the Crimea.

The campaign started on January 5, and over 300,000 signatures have been collected, which is more than necessary for holding the referendum, the organizing committee said. The Russian Community of the Crimea held the campaign.

The organizing committee will continue the collection of signatures unofficially until March 17, the day of the 15th anniversary of the Soviet referendum at which the majority of citizens supported preservation of the USSR as a federation of equal and sovereign republics.

The Crimean parliament shall analyze results of the poll and make a decision about the referendum before February 23. The organizers suggest holding the referendum on March 26, when Ukrainian parliamentarians will be elected, in order to minimize expenditures.

Opponents to the Russian Community of the Crimea think “this is part of the election campaign of community leaders, who are running for the election to the Crimean parliament with the bloc For Yanukovich.” The referendum results will not be mandatory.