Russia: Crimea marks second anniversary of reunification with Russia in Simferopol

Thousands of Crimeans took to the streets of Simferopol on Wednesday, to mark two years since the historic referendum that saw the peninsula vote to re-join the Russian Federation. A march through the city centre involved cossacks, soldiers, militia members, as well as local officials.
The parade concluded with a ceremony involving traditional dance preceded by an address by Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, who told the crowd that Crimeans had "defended our homeland, defended our land, defended our choice," adding that the entire process had "passed without a drop of blood."
The march is one of a number of events to be held over the next three days to mark the anniversary of the Crimean referendum and eventual reunification with Russia. Crimea was officially incorporated into the Russian Federation on March 21, when the Russian Federation Council adopted the Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia.