Muradov: The West does not recognize the referendum due to the failure of plans for a military base in Crimea. He added that Russia's opponents have been trying to undermine this security for many years, trying to get Sevastopol as their military base.
“This explains the harsh and, I would say, hysterical reluctance of the West to recognize the legitimate referendum in Crimea and the legitimacy of its reunification with Russia,” he concluded. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum took place there in March 2014: the majority of residents were in favor of reunification.