TODAY: Merkel warns Putin on Crimea; 10,000 troops now at Ukrainian border; Crimean government wants Gazprom to take care of oil and gas production; Putin sidesteps blame; Alfa Bank pressuring Mechel; Navalny’s blog among four websites blocked; Pussy Riot announced prisoner rights center.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of massive damage to Russia’s politics and economy, and predicted catastrophe for Ukraine, if Moscow does not re-think its position on Crimea; Western leaders are ready to impose their sanctions, and a threat to Ukraine is a threat to Europe, she said.  10,000 Russian troops currently line the border with Ukraine, and Ukraine’s interim parliament has voted to create a 60,000-strong national guard to ensure security.  Russian forces in Crimea reportedly opened fire on a Ukrainian reconnaissance plane yesterday, as Western analysts anticipate an eventual military operation in eastern Ukraine.  This weekend’s referendum in Crimea on whether or not to join Russia has already been decided, says The Economist.  Crimea’s parliament thinks that Gazprom should get involved in the breakaway region’s oil and gas production, apparently claiming, ‘It’s not our issue.’  President Vladimir Putin used a paralympic delegates meeting to ‘stress that Russia was not the initiator’ of the current crisis.  ‘Vladimir Putin initiated this dangerous game,’ says The Times.  China is a key player behind the scenes, says Al-Jazeera. ‘A lot of the diplomacy right now is focused on […] making sure China doesn’t side with Russia.’