Crimea starts reforms to move toward Moscow

Simferopol, March 21: The newly-proclaimed Republic of

is scheduled to start using Russian rouble as its official

from March 24, the republic's parliament speaker has revealed.

Vladimir Konstantinov, who was in Moscow signing the reunification treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov and Sevastopol Mayor Aleksei Chaliy, said that "The rouble is already here", Xinhua reported.

"All transactions will be carried out in roubles from Monday (March 24). Payments, pensions and salaries will be paid in roubles".

The peninsula of Crimea is also switching to Moscow time. The scheduled time switch is March 30.

Though Ukrainian hryvnia will keep on circulating till Jan 1 of 2016 for the transition. Crimea, however, will keep the existing Ukrainian budget and tax codes until Crimea formulates its own regulations regarding these matters.

IANS