When can a region declare independence from a country?

[Spider]

[gla22]

[The Comrade]

most of russia's navy is in Vladivostok and the baltic. what language they speak is completely irrelevant. the UK doesn't have a claim on the US because we both speak english. and russians are a slim majority. tatars and ukrainians make up a significant portion of crimea still.

[gla22]

[The Comrade]

because the ballot initiative is to immediately join russia, or proclaim their independence and then ask to join russia. it's not a real choice. and the parliament knows that which is why they're considering just seceding without even trying a ballot. and i'd consider it a vote under duress with 20k russian soldiers patrolling the region.

[gla22]

[The Comrade]

yes, moving 20k soldiers, your navy, tanks and gunships into a region and occupying it isn't a looming threat, or any attempt at intimidation. not coercive at all.

and the parliament is a better reflection of the will of the people than a ballot initiative? lol what? since when is representative democracy a better reflection of the will of the people than direct democracy?

[gla22]

[The Comrade]

[exploited]