East Ukraine

If it is the will of the local people of East Ukraine to hold a referendum,
how is that an "unofficial" or "illegal" act according to Western
governments? I call it democracy in action, even if they choose to be
Russian, speak Russian and want a Russian way of life. Sudan split in two,
Czechoslovakia split in two, Ireland split in two, The Scots are planning a
referendum to get out of the UK and good riddance, so what's the big deal
with East and West Ukraine?

-- Lord Androcles, Zeroth Earl of Medway