Crisis in Crimea - Careering towards calamity

Western opinion believes almost unanimously that Sunday’s referendum in Crimea was fixed, or at the very least that the result was achieved through intimidation, as vehemently as Russia insists it was a legitimate vote carried out in unquestionable, free circumstances.

That pro-Moscow officials in Crimea say the proposal to secede from Ukraine and submit to Russia’s tender mercies was endorsed by 97% of voters gives an air of North Korean fantasy to the proceedings, no matter what the most ardent voices in Moscow will claim.

The intractability of the crisis is underlined as Russia can point to an equally absolute view among those who find its antidemocratic authoritarianism in Ukraine unacceptable. Opposition to President Putin’s trampling of Ukraine is vocal but for the moment limited to expressions of indignation and the relatively benign impact of imposing travel bans and asset freezes against 21 officials from Russia or Ukraine.