same day, Russia recognized the Republic of Crimea as a sovereign state. On March 18, the Crimean authorities finally signed the accession treaty to the Russian Federation, thus forming the Crimean Federal District, subsequently merged into the Southern Federal District. On April 11, the State Council of the Republic of Crimea consequently ratified a new constitution, providing for the post of Head of the Republic of Crimea, effective from April 14 of the same year. Eligibility and authorities Under article 62 of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea, approved by the State Council on 11 April 2014 and entered into force the following day, any Russian citizen who has reached the age of thirty can take up the post, provided that he has not been subjected to restrictions on civil and political rights. Formally a head of state, the head of the republic is actually a governor, subordinate to the president of the Russian Federation; he oversees the executive, and has the right to legislative initiative in the State Council, which he can also convene exceptionally. Furthermore, under articles 61-65 of the Constitution, he: appoints and dismisses, with the consent of the State Council, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, without prejudice to the possibility of simultaneously holding both posts, as well as the ministers and other senior officials of the Republic; represents the Republic of Crimea in relations with the central government and other local authorities of the Russian Federation, as well as with foreign economic representatives; and signs treaties in the name of the Republic; signs and promulgates the laws of the Republic of Crimea; and adopts presidential decrees. Presidential appointed officials Prosecutor General: Natalia Poklonskaya, appointed by Sergey Aksyonov on 11 March 2014 (although the right of appointment has passed to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, her mandate was confirmed ad interim on March 25 and definitively on 2 May 2014 by Yury Chaika, ending on 6 October 2016); Representative to the Federation Council: Olga Kovitidi, appointed by Sergey Aksyonov on 15 April 2014; Prime Minister: Yury Gotsanyuk, appointed by Sergey Aksyonov on 20 September 2019. List Elections 2014 Three candidates were nominated for the election: Sergey Aksyonov, interim Head of the Republic; Gennady Naraev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Crimea; Alexander Terentyev, Deputy of the State Duma. 2019 Three candidates were nominated for the election: Sergey Aksyonov, incumbent Head of