DHAKA: The Group of Seven most developed economies on Wednesday said a Moscow-backed referendum in Crimea on switching over to Kremlin rule would have ‘no legal effect’ and called on Russia to back down.

The G7 – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – along with European Union leaders called on Russia ‘to cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in violation of international law’, according to a statement released by the White House.

‘Any such referendum would have no legal effect,’ they said, reports the BBC.

‘Given the lack of adequate preparation and the intimidating presence of Russian troops, it would also be a deeply flawed process which would have no moral force. For all these reasons, we would not recognise the outcome.’

BDST: 2124 HRS, MAR 12, 2014