KIEV, March 17 – President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday reshuffled the leadership of Crimea, an autonomous republic dominated by ethnic Russians, by arranging appointment of his close allies to key positions.

The appointment of Volodymyr Konstantinov, the leader of For Yanukovych group in the local legislature, as the speaker of Crimean Parliament, and Vasyl Dhzharty, a senior Regions Party member, as the prime minister of Crimea, demonstrate that Yanukovych has complete political control over the region.