Lower house rejects Russian annexation of Crimea

The Czech lower house has passed a motion rejecting the annexation of Crimea by Russia as a contravention of international law. Deputies also gave their backing to the government in negotiations on a joint European Union and NATO approach to resolving the situation in Ukraine. Of 179 deputies present in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies 16 Communists and one member of Dawn voted against the motion, which came from the opposition Civic Democrats. A proposal from an opposition TOP MP that the cabinet push for economic sanctions against Moscow failed to find support.