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Content: A referendum designed to legitimise the land grab resulted in a 97 per cent vote in favour but a UN Human Rights report published on Tuesday claimed the poll had effectively been rigged as Russia had used propaganda, torture, kidnappings and repression of those expressing disagreement or anti-Russian sentiment ahead of the vote. Moscow’s claim to Crimea is perhaps more justifiable than on any other part of the country as the region was part of Russia until 1954 when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev handed it over to Ukraine. But following the break-up of the Soviet empire Ukraine gained its independence and Russia was forced to negotiate a deal to allow it to use the vital port. HOW DOES THE ONGOING CONFLICT AFFECT US? In 2013 Europe imported 40 per cent of its gas from Russia, one third of its oil and 25 per cent of its coal. Sixty per cent of Europe’s gas comes via pipelines routed through Ukraine and so if Russia turns off the taps to its Ukrainian pipelines Western customers will be forced to draw on reserves and gas prices will soar. Thus the EU’s room for manoeuvre is limited. However, European countries account for 84 per cent of Russia’s oil exports and 76 per cent of its natural gas exports. In all, 20 per cent of Russia’s GDP – £250billion – is generated by fuel exports to Europe, so it needs revenue from sales to Western countries almost as much as the Europeans need its gas. Meanwhile Russia has doubled the price of gas it sells to Ukraine.