TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the Republic of Crimea as an independent country, and its new place within the Russian Federation on Monday, March 17, 2014, following the controversial Crimean referendum that takes place over the weekend.
Putin stated that the city of Sevastopol, which previously acts as the capital of Crimea, will receive a special status.
Previously on the weekend, around 95.5 percent of 1.5 million Crimea citizens have agreed to declare the region as an independent state and agree to be annexed into Russia.
REUTERS | MARIA RITA HASUGIAN