AKIPRESS.COM - 95.7% of voters in the Crimean referendum have answered “yes” to the autonomous republic joining Russia and less than 3.2% of the vote participants want the region to remain part of Ukraine, according to preliminary results, RT reported several hours ago.

The overall voter turnout in the referendum on the status of Crimea is 81.37%, according to the head of the Crimean Parliament’s commission on the referendum, Mikhail Malyshev.

The preliminary results of the popular vote were announced during a meeting in the center of Sevastopol. The final results will be announced at a press conference at 7.00 GMT on Monday.

Over a half of the Tatars living in the port city took part in the referendum, with the majority of them voting in favor of joining Russia, according to a representative of the Tatar community Lenur Usmanov.

In Simferopol, the capital of the republic, at least 15,000 have gathered to celebrate the referendum in central Lenin square. Demonstrators, waving Russian and Crimean flags, were watching a live concert while waiting for the announcement of preliminary results of the voting.

International observers are planning to present their final declaration on the Crimean referendum on March 17, the head of the monitors’ commission, Polish MP Mateusz Piskorski told journalists. He added that the voting was held in line with international norms and standards.

Next week, Crimea will officially introduce the ruble as a second official currency along with Ukrainian hryvna, Sergei Aksyonov said. The dual currency will be in place for about six months.

Overall, the republic’s integration into Russia will take up to a year. However, they want to maintain relations with “economic entities, including Ukraine,” rather than burn bridges.