WASHINGTON, March 16 – The United States does not recognize Russia's "referendum" of March 16, 2014, and accuse Russian authorities of violation of rights of peninsular residents, acting State Department spokesperson Mark C. Toner said.

Toner said in a statement that "the United States does not recognize Russia's 'referendum' of March 16, 2014, nor its attempted annexation of Crimea and continued violation of international law."