Putin compares 'referendums' in Crimea and Catalonia
At the final plenary session of the Valdai Club in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the “referendums” in annexed Crimea and Catalonia.
“In the situation with Catalonia we saw the unanimous condemnation of independence supporters by the European Union and a whole range of other states. In this connection, I have to point out: You should have thought earlier. What, was no one aware of such disagreements lasting for centuries within Europe itself? They were aware. However, at the time they actually welcomed the collapse of a whole number of European states, without concealing their happiness about this. But why should the secession of Kosovo have been so thoughtlessly and unconditionally supported, on the basis of the current political situation and the desire to please the big brother from Washington, provoking similar processes in other regions of Europe and indeed the world? I recall that when Crimea declared its independence in a similar fashion, and subsequently joined Russia as the result of the referendum, this was also not to their liking for some reason,” Putin said.
According to him, such actions by the West illustrate “double standards” in their politics.
The referendum on Catalonia’s independence took place on October 1. More than 90% of voters voted in favor of seceding from Spain. According to the Catalonian authorities, voter turnout was 43% percent. The Spanish authorities declared the voting illegal. The European Commission is of the same opinion. France, Germany and Italy have also opposed Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence.
On March 16, 2014, a referendum was held in Crimea and Sevastopol regarding the status of the peninsula, as a result of which Russia annexed Crimea. The referendum was not recognized by Ukraine, the EU or the US. Putin announced the “annexation” of Crimea by Russia on March 18.