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Crimea’s parliament has approved a declaration on the republic’s independence in order to hold a referendum, a well-informed source told Itar-Tass.

“The declaration is indispensable to hold a referendum on Crimea’s accession to Russia as a constituent entity,” the source said.

The adoption of the declaration is a technical step in order to hold the referendum.

A total of 78 deputies out of 100 parliamentarians voted for the declaration.

Under the document, “if Crimean residents vote for the accession of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia a constituent entity, Crimea will be declared an independent republic after the referendum.”

“Based on the results of the referendum, Crimea will address Russia to accede to it as a constituent entity,” the declaration says.

Crimea will be a democratic, secular and multinational state, the declaration says.