In Crimea, voting is underway in a controversial referendum that will decide whether the peninsula rejoins Russia, or stays in Ukraine. <br /><br /> The Black Sea regions ethnic Tatars plan to boycott the poll. <br /><br /> Despite that, Crimeans are expected to back a break-away from Kyiv, a move widely predicted to prompt Western sanctions. <br /><br /> Earlier, Sergei Aksyonov, the leader of Crimea’s Russian backed government cast his vote in the region’s capital Simferopol. <br /><br /> Unrecognised by Kyiv and accused of tilting the vote in Moscow’s favour, the man, who is also nicknamed the Goblin, refuted claims the ballot had been rigged. <br /><br /> “You can see, free voting is taking place, people are coming to polling stations freely. There are no problems. Personally, I don’t feel any pressure,’‘ Aksyonov said. <br /><br /> But even if Crimea, in the unlikely event did opt to stay in Ukraine, the vote ensures it is granted greater autonomy. <br /><br /> Around 1.5 million people are eligible to vote in the Black Sea region with provisional results due late on Sunday. The final tally is expected one or two days later.
