Putin vetoes UN resolution as Crimea polling stations prepare for referendum

As Crimea crisis remain unresolved, Russia has vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote on Saturday, while China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis.


The UN draft resolution, which says Sunday's referendum would have no validity, got 13 votes in the 15-member Council. But it was rejected when permanent member Russia exercised its veto.

Meanwhile, Crimea polling stations are making final preparations for Sunday's  referendum that will decide whether the semi-autonomous region will split from Ukraine and join Russia.

Crimea referendum commissioners were flanked by police officers as they boarded buses to deliver ballot papers to polling stations, to be counted and stamped to prevent fraud.


A referendum commissioner, Zhanna Yakovlevna said,  she expected a high voter turnout in a Simferopol district with a high Tartar population.

"We don't even think that people may not come. They will express their will. And I believe that Tatars of Crimea will also vote in favour or against (joining Russia). If they want to stay in Ukraine, we will count their votes. If not, we'll count them too. We will count everything they will vote for," she said, after picking up the ballot papers.