Billboards go up in Crimean capital to advertise independence referendum

In the Crimean capital Sevastopol workers are busy.

They're putting up billboards for a big referendum on March 16.

Residents of this mostly Russian-speaking region in eastern Ukraine have two choices.

Do they become sovereign, but maintain ties with Ukraine's new Western-allied government in the capital Kiev?

Or do they secede altogether, and join Russia, which gave Crimea to Ukraine in the 1950's?

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, IVAN KOMILOV, SAYING:

"This is the reaction of Sevastopol people to the armed coup which took place in Ukraine recently. And those fascist forces who rule in Kiev."

The Pro-Russian billboards are easy to spot and not subtle.

They compare the government in Kiev to Nazis.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, TATIANA VALINTENKO, SAYING:

"I can only be in favor of billboards telling us that fascism should not enter here. We see what is happening in Kiev."

But not everyone wants Ukr