anton shekhovtsov is a ukrainian citizen who was in kiev and sevastapol in january.he is a researcher at the university college london, specializing in far right movements. with him is jonathan steele, former moscow correspondent for the guardian. he recently wrote a piece called, "the ukraine crisis: john kerry and nato must calm down and back off". he is the author of "eternal russia: yeltsin, gorbachev, and the mirage of democracy". here in new york, we are joined by keith gessen, editor at n plus one magazine. his latest co- authored editorial is called "ukraine, putin, and the west." he covered the 2010 ukraine elections for the new yorker magazine. welcome all to democracy now! let's begin with debo adegbile --anton shekhovtsov, the referendum wanted to succeed from the ukraine. >> thank you for the invitation. i would agree with the former prime minister and president barack obama that this referendum is absolutely illegitimate for three reasons. first of all, it is against the ukrainian constitution to hold a referendum in the autonomous republic of crimea. s