Russia’s lower house of parliament will next week debate new legislation that would pave the way for the Ukrainian region of Crimea to become part of Russia

Russia's lower house of parliament will next week debate new legislation that would pave the way for the Ukrainian region of Crimea to become part of Russia, lawmakers said Tuesday.
  
The State Duma will on March 21 debate the amendments to an existing law on the absorption by Russia of territories previously belonging to another state, leading United Russia ruling party lawmaker Vyacheslav Nikonov told the RIA Novosti news agency after a meeting of top MPs.
  
Under the existing law, adopted in 2001, a foreign state essentially had to itself ask Russia in order to become Russian territory.
  
The amendments -- clearly presented with Crimea in mind -- allow Russia to take territory without the agreement of the federal government of that country. Crimea is due to vote in a referendum on joining Russia in March 16, and is widely expected to vote on joining Russia in a move that risks a major crisis with the West.
  
However the new Ukrainian authorities who came to power after the fall of president Viktor Yanukovych have said that they will not recognise the result of the referendum.
  
The new legislation proposes that Russia can de-facto annex territory from another state in the absence of a functioning sovereign authority in that state, something that Russia claims is the case with Ukraine.