Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian president Vladimir Putin: Mikhail Malishev said the initial result came after more than 50 per cent of the ballots had been counted. Russian news agency, Interfax, said voter turnout had exceeded 80 per cent. , according to CBC. According to a statement released by the Kremlin, Russian president Vladimir Putin told U.S. president Barack Obama, in a phone call, that the Crimean referendum complies with international law. Putin also expressed concern about Kyiv's failure to stamp out violence against Russian speakers in Ukraine. The head of the referendum committee in Ukraine's Crimea region says more than 95 per cent of voters have approved splitting off and joining Russia. Sunday's vote was denounced by the West and the acting Ukrainian government as illegitimate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.