YEREVAN. – Crimea referendum is not a legal process, but a political attempt to legitimize certain new political situation in the post-Soviet area, Armenian political analyst believes.

Sergey Minasyan, deputy director of Caucasus Institute, said the referendum in fact means desacralization of the borders that existed in post-Soviet area.

“In this area, some players are playing geopolitical chess game during which one of the players suddenly turns the chessboard and hist the other one on his head. One thing is clear: there is a situation when one geopolitical power, nuclear power, thought it could change the natural order of things, and not only in the post-Soviet space,” Minasyan said, stressing that Russia is trying to show that it is a player having an independent opinion.

Crimea n authorities declared independence after Sunday referendum. Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing independence of Crimea by Russia.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am