Putin Signs Decree Recognizing Crimea as Independent State as Region Applies to Join Russia

Crimea's regional assembly on Monday declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia, saying all Ukrainian state property on the peninsula would be nationalized.

Later on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree formally recognizing Crimea as an independent state following its vote to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.

The Kremlin's official website quoted Putin's decree as recognizing "the Republic of Crimea... as a sovereign and independent state."

It was issued "considering the expression of the will of the people of Crimea at the general Crimean referendum" on Sunday, it said.

The decree added that it entered into force from the moment of its signature and included the time stamp of 10:30 pm (1830 GMT).

Putin is due on Tuesday to address both houses of parliament about the crisis following the announcement of targeted U.S. and EU sanctions against top Russians and Ukrainians deemed responsible for the breakaway vote, as well as pro-Kremlin forces' effective seizure of the Black Sea peninsula at the start of the month.

Earlier, a decree approved by Crimea's assembly said "the republic of Crimea appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognize it as an independent state."

"The Republic of Crimea... applies to the Russian Federation to accept the Republic of Crimea as a member of the Russian Federation," it said.

Crimea's local prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov also tweeted that starting on March 30, the region would switch to Moscow time (GMT +4), two hours ahead of the current time in Crimea.

The document was approved by all 85 deputies present in the 100-seat assembly, after a disputed referendum on Sunday in which Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to join Russia.

"The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea... declares Crimea an independent sovereign state -- the Republic of Crimea," the document said.

It said that from Monday, Ukrainian laws would no longer apply in Crimea and decisions taken by the Ukrainian state since the ouster of Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych last month had no authority.

"The activities of state institutions of Ukraine on the territory of Crimea are finished and their powers, their property and their budgets are transferred to the state organs of the Republic of Crimea," it said.

"All establishments, businesses and other organizations of Ukraine or with Ukrainian participation on the territory of Crimea will belong to Crimea," it added.

It was unclear if this would also include Ukrainian military bases.

Aksyonov also said in a tweet that 500 Ukrainian soldiers had left their posts in Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet.

Earlier on Monday, he said that 96.6 percent of voters casting ballots in a weekend poll chose to break off from Ukraine and join Russia.

"Final results of the referendum -- 96.6 percent in favor!" he tweeted, a day after the disputed poll which is only recognized by Russia and which has sparked an international diplomatic crisis.

Putin has said the residents of Crimea -- which has been home to Moscow's Black Sea fleet since the late 18th century and which was transferred to Ukraine only in 1954 by a Soviet leader -- have a right to self-determination.

Putin will address both houses of parliament on Tuesday over Crimea's vote to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia, the Kremlin and lawmakers said.

"The speech of the president with an address on Crimea has been scheduled for 3 pm (1100 GMT)," Ivan Melnikov, the first deputy speaker of the lower house, the State Duma, said in parliament Monday.

The Kremlin confirmed his statement, although the contents of his address has not been revealed.

State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Russia will recognize Crimea's independence from Ukraine in a special treaty.

Lawmakers said they would accelerate procedures to allow Crimea to join Russia and fast-track bills to give out Russian passports to local residents.

"All necessary legislative decisions following the results of the referendum will be taken as soon as possible," said another deputy speaker Sergei Neverov.

In the wake of the vote, Crimea's pro-Moscow prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov said he was leaving for Moscow on Monday.

Later on Monday, Ukraine's parliament approved the partial mobilization of troops to counter "Russian interference" on its soil.

A majority of deputies approved the motion, demanded by interim president Oleksandr Turchynov, citing "the worsening political situation in the country... and Russia's interference in Ukraine's internal affairs."

Parliament also approved an additional 6.9 billion hryvnia (524 million euros, $728 million) for its armed forces.

Crimea's regional assembly chief Volodymyr Konstantynov was quoted in Russian media Monday as saying Ukrainian military units in the peninsula would be "disbanded."

"The personnel of Ukraine's armed forces will be given an alternative: serve in Crimea and swear allegiance to the republic or continue outside the borders of Crimea in the Ukrainian army," he said.

"The units will be disbanded. Those who want to live here? No problem. Those who want to swear allegiance we will examine," he added.

But Ukraine's Defense Minister Igor Tenyukh told a press conference in Kiev Monday that the country's troops would remain in Crimea.

Ahead of Sunday's referendum, Kiev had called last week for the initial mobilization of reservists and approved the creation of a new National Guard of 60,000 volunteers, as Russian forces encircled Ukrainian military bases in Crimea.

Kremlin sent troops to the peninsula after three months of anti-government protests in Ukraine saw the country's pro-Moscow president ousted and replaced with a Western-leaning team.