The referendum already happened. My original suggestion was "respect the result" - what 90% or crimeans also want according to gallup - a western pollster.

What you want is for their votes to be "corrected" to fall in line with strategic imperialist objectives. This is a position Putin would understand and respect.

>There can be no legitimate referendum while a territory is under invasion.

Actually I believe there can under three conditions:

* The population want the referendum.

* The referendum wouldnt have happened without invasion.

* No vote coercion happened as a result of the invasion.

All three conditions held for Crimea, as well as certain other places. These conditions held for Iraq also, for example.

Once again: if you want to anull the results of a referendum because you dont like the result where there is no uncertainty about a free and fair result then you can only pretend to respect democracy.