Crimea, as Russian federal subject, gets president

Crimea, as Russian federal subject, gets president

SIMFEROPOL -- Sergei Aksionov, one of the main organizers of a referendum after which Crimea joined Russia, was unanimously elected as president of the Republic of Crimea.

All 75 deputies supported Aksionov, said a statement issued by the Crimean assembly.

Two more candidates were in the running, in accordance with Russian law, while the nominations were approved by President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

Since the March 16 referendum, after which Crimea became a part of Russia as a federal subject, Aksionov served as interim president, at the request of Putin.

He is on the list of persons against whom the United States and the EU imposed sanctions because of the Ukrainian crisis.

Regional elections were held in Crimea in mid-September, when the ruling Russian party United Russia expectedly won taking 70 of 75 seats in the assembly.

Ukraine considers these elections illegal.

Aksionov is the second president in the history of Crimea. This position was previously held from 1994 until 1995 by Yuri Meshkov after which it was abolished, with powers related to the territory of Crimea transfered to the president of Ukraine.