Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), released the following statement on the Crimean referendum to make the Ukraine territory part of Russia. 

"I am deeply disturbed by the events that have taken place today in Crimea. Today's supposed vote to join the Russian Federation was nothing more than a sham and a flagrant violation of international law. 

No legislative body can take a vote of free will to join another nation when they are facing invading tanks from that nation.

The Russian Federation has invaded the sovereignty of Ukraine and continues to influence events on the ground through the use of military force. Ukraine remains an occupied nation.

The U.S. must stand in staunch opposition to Putin’s continued acts of aggression and move swiftly to put pressure on Russia strategically and economically through NATO expansion and increased exportation of U.S. natural gas."