Sergey Aksionov: The man behind the drive to hand Crimea to Russia
Just two weeks ago, Sergey Aksionov was unknown, the head of a political party in Crimea few had heard of. Now he's the new prime minister of the Ukrainian peninsula, and the leader of the drive to hand Crimea to Russia.
Aksionov tries to avoid Western media. He wouldn't agree to speak with CBS News, but his deputy did.
"In the turbulent time after the riots in Kiev, Aksionov appealed to the Russian President to help us protect lives and keep the peace," Polonsky said.
Putin was only too happy to oblige.
Aksionov's armed militias, which he'd been recruiting for some time, got Moscow's backing to whip up pro-Russian sentiment.
On Feb. 27, emotional crowds gathered in front of Crimea's parliament. Aksionov showed up, and waded in, as if to calm the situation. In fact, he was on his way into the building to seize power. In short order, local independent television was taken off the air and all flights except those to and from Moscow were canceled.
An inflammatory referendum campaign was launched, the results of which the governments of America, Europe and Ukraine say will not be legal.
"We aren't here to deliver what America wants, but what the Crimean people want," Polonsky said. "So don't threaten us."
The real threat for Aksionov's men are prominent Ukrainian leaders, dozens of whom have disappeared so far. On Friday night, the head of the military hospital was taken away in handcuffs by anonymous armed men and Russian paramilitaries. His whereabouts are unknown. CBS News spoke to his terrified employees. Their message: Please help us.