the vote took place in the kyrgyzstan region and other areas of iraq.t would give kurdish leaders a mandate to begin talks to leave the country. correspondent: kurds celebrate the holding of the independence referendum. >> today we voted for the independence of kyrgyzstan and its independence from iraq. we want to change our identity to jur -- to kurdish. i say goodbye to iraq and hello to independence. correspondent: iraq's central government said it will never accept the splitting up of the country. the u.s. feared it would distract from the fight against the so-called islamic state. the kurds say it is part of acknowledging their fighters's part in defending from is. >> we make sacrifices for the land and god willing the jur --e kurdish state will happen. we will sacrifice ourselves for it. correspondent: iraq's population also -- iraq's neighbors also have populations of kurds. >> our attitude on this issue is clear, regardless of the results, we have declared this referendum null and void. it is not in conformity with the current law in iraq. we de

he is a student from the kyrgyzstan republic. the damage he brought is serious. he used a lincoln penny. >> it was incised into the surface of the stone so that's a departure from the previous graffiti we experienced which is more on the surface. so, this does represent permanent damage to the historic fabric of the memorial so that is troubling. >> reporter: thousands of tourists come here each day, most who make this trip appreciate what this memorial stands for. they find it hard to fathom that someone else would come here with damage in mind. >> bit of a symbol of the lack of respect for history and what this building and this memorial means for history. so, it's a bit symbolic for how the world is working today. >> he shouldn't have done this. you vandal public proper t they should be behind bars for this. >> reporter: back with you live now, bakarov is back due in court november 1st. he is facing felony of destruction of property charge. he could get ten years in jail and $5,000 in fines. we're live at the lincoln memorial, derrick ward, news 4. >> and i'm

are barely discernible, but we are told they could be actually his name spelled from his native kyrgyzstan. this is the first time something has been etched in the stone. repaired. it may be the weather will wear it down some. but they're going to have to be deliberate and thoughtful about how they do this as we hear from a person who is the conservator for monuments for the national park service. take a listen. >> so, this does represent permanent damage to the historic fabric of the memorial, so, that is troubling and presents its own challenges in its own ways when it comes time to trying to devise a repair for that. >> reporter: now, bakarov is a student from kerj stan. he's due back in court in november to face a felony for destruction of property. he could get ten years and $20,000 in fines we have more coming up on news 5. derrick ward at the lincoln memorial, back to you, news 4. >> we hate to see that. >>> it is a race with national implications. tonight the governors for virginia square off for an important debate. >> this is a race you may want to pay attention you can watch it

voters in the iraqi kyrgyzstan overwhelmingly chose full inpen distance on monday. they already rule over their own autonomous region but they say the vote was illegal and the referendum angered neighboring turkey and iran. both countries have kurdish populations that dream of independence. the u.s. also opposed the referendum, worried it could disrupt the fragile cooperation between the kurds and the iraqi government in the fight against isis. the kurds of iraq have battled bravely against the extremist. close american allies to defeat the fanatics. a man lost both of his legs to an isis bomb. every morning when i used to wake up, it was like hell, he told us. before i was supporting my people and my nation. but then i couldn't even support myself. many people here believe that sacrifice makes iraqi kurdistan more deserving of independence but not even its friends seem to agree. turkey has threatened to cut off iraqi kurdistan's oil exports in the wake of the referendum and that could be crippling pause this region is almost entirely dependent on oil revenue. for "