The Crimean parliament is set to adopt a new constitution that will further formalize its accession into the Russian Federation. The official vote, a mere formality given the support within parliament for the document, is scheduled for Friday.
Politically, the constitution will cut in half the size of the provincial parliament, and will cut the number of seats available for party lists, encouraging more independent candidates in future elections.
The document also declares Crimea “united and indivisible,” and makes no mention of any autonomous regions for the region’s Tatar minority, an idea which has been pushed by the Tatars since secession.
The Tatars opposed secession from Ukraine in the first place, but have hoped to carve out a measure of autonomy within the Crimean Republic. Crimean MPs have opposed the plan, and say they believe the Tatars should have “cultural autonomy” but not territorial autonomy.
Crimea is proving to be a poisoned chalice.