The referendum held in the Crimean Autonomous Republic on whether the peninsula should secede to Russia violates the Ukrainian constitution; therefore the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary regards the Crimean referendum as illegitimate and unlawful.

The popular ballot cannot serve as the basis for changing the status of Crimea, and the decision to hold the referendum and the ballot itself both seriously compromise political efforts towards peacefully resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary underscores that Hungary remains committed to Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Hungary calls upon all sides affected by the crisis to withhold from taking any provocative action which could exacerbate tensions and lead to violence, as well as from any decisions which could endanger the safety and legal security of national, ethnic and linguistic minorities. The Hungarian community of Transcarpathia is especially important in this respect as far as Hungary is concerned.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary urges the Russian side not to take any action that may escalate the crisis. It calls on Russia to begin dialogue with the Ukrainian government and to take up the offer of international mediation.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)