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| {{current|date=February 2014}} | |||
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| {{Infobox civil conflict | |||
| | title = 2014 Crimean protests | |||
| | image = | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | date = 23 February 2014 - present | |||
| | place = ], Ukraine | |||
| | coordinates = | |||
| | causes = | |||
| | goals = Conservation of former President ]<br>Opposition to anti-government ]<br>*Russian citizen claims mayorship<br>Russian military establishes roadblock outside Sevastopol | |||
| | status = Ongoing | |||
| | result = | |||
| | methods = Protests | |||
| | side1 = ] | |||
| | side2 = *] ]<ref name="bbx2">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26354705?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief&utm_campaign=MB%202.26.14</ref><BR>*Other Crimeans who support the ]<ref name="bbx2"/> | |||
| | leadfigures1 = ] | |||
| | leadfigures2 = | |||
| | howmany1 = | |||
| | howmany2 = | |||
| | casualties1 = | |||
| | casualties2 = | |||
| | casualties3 = Two civilian deaths<ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/two-die-in-rallies-outside-crimean-parliament-says-ex-head-of-mejlis-337708.html</ref> | |||
| | fatalities = | |||
| | injuries = | |||
| | arrests = | |||
| | detentions = | |||
| | charged = | |||
| | fined = | |||
| | casualties_label = | |||
| | notes = | |||
| }} | |||
| Following anti-government ] that began in 2013, and culminated in the impeachment of President ], residents of the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, protested against the move. This led to polarization to a level that warnings were issued against the partition of Ukraine. | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| {{main|Euromaidan}} | |||
| Towards the end of 2013, anti-government protests began over the issue of ] which President ] rejected. This was viewed by the media as a step closer towards ]. As the protests escalated into 2014, it eventually led to deaths as a result of violence. Parliament then voted to impeach Yanukovich as he went into hiding; an arrest warrant was also issued for him. In the aftermath, Ukraine disbanded the ], which acting interior minister ] accused of being culpable for the deaths. Russian President ] ordered the ] to be "put on alert in the Western Military District as well as units stationed with the 2nd Army Central Military District Command involved in aerospace defense, airborne troops and long-range military transport." Despite media speculation it was for in reaction to the events in Ukraine Russian Defense Minister ] said it was in separate consideration from the unrest in Ukraine.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304709904579406310892324006?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMorning%20Brief&utm_campaign=MB%202.26.14</ref> | |||
| The ] ] declared recognition of the new provisional government in Kiev and that the region would carry out all laws passed by parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274524.html|title=Прем'єр Криму Могильов заявляє, що виконуватиме нові закони|language=uk|publisher=Radio Svoboda|date=23 February 2014|language=Ukrainian|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274524.html|archivedate=24 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ==Protests== | |||
| The ] called for an extraordinary session on 21 February. The leader of the ]{{who}} said he suspected that the session may ask for Russian military intervention. "Tomorrow may be a decision that will bring chaos and disaster to Crimea."<ref>{{cite web|author=|language=Ukrainian|url=http://news.bigmir.net/ukraine/788004-V-Ukraine-zahvatyvajut-oblastnye-gosadministracii--OBNOVLJaETSJa-|title=В Украине захватывают областные госадминистрации|publisher=Big Mir|accessdate=21 February 2014|archiveurl= | |||
| //web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://news.bigmir.net/ukraine/788004-V-Ukraine-zahvatyvajut-oblastnye-gosadministracii--OBNOVLJaETSJa-|archivedate=21 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| In ], a pro-Euromaidan rally of between 5,000–15,000 was held in support of the new government. The protesters also demanded the resignation of the Crimean parliament; attendees waved Ukrainian, Tatar and European Union flags.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274499.html|title=У Криму вимагають розпуску парламенту автономії і знесення пам'ятника Леніну|language=uk|publisher=Radio Svoboda|date=23 February 2014|language=Ukrainian|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274499.html|archivedate=24 February 2014}}</ref> Meanwhile in Sevastopol, thousands protested against the new authorities and voted to establish a parallel administration and civil defense squads created with the support of Russian ] bikers. Protesters waved Russian flags and chanted "Putin is our president" and claimed they would refuse to pay further taxes to the state.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea|title=Ukraine crisis fuels secession calls in pro-Russian south|newspaper=]|date=24 February 2014|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea|archivedate=24 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=russiarally>{{cite news|url=http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/swiat/684527,rosja-przygotowuje-sie-do-zbrojnej-interwencji-na-ukrainie.html|title=Rosja przygotowuje się do zbrojnej interwencji na Ukrainie?|trans_title=Russia is preparing for military intervention in Ukraine?|language=Polish|newspaper=]|date=23 February 2014|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/swiat/684527,rosja-przygotowuje-sie-do-zbrojnej-interwencji-na-ukrainie.html|archivedate=24 February 2014}}</ref> Russian military convoys were also alleged to be seen in the area.<ref name=russiarally /> In ], pro-Russian protesters attempted to remove the Ukrainian flag from atop city hall and replace it with the ]. Over 200 attended waving flags of Russia, orange-and-black St. George and the ] party. Mayor ] attempted to disperse the crowd and police eventually arrived to keep the protesters at bay. Osadchy said: "This is the territory of Ukraine, Crimea. Here's a flag of Crimea" but was accused of treason and a fight ensued over the flagpole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unian.net/politics/888686-v-kerchi-mitinguyuschie-sorvali-ukrainskiy-flag-i-merii-i-povesili-rossiyskiy.html |title=В Керчи митингующие сорвали украинский флаг и мэрии и повесили российский : Новости УНИАН |publisher=Unian.net |date= |accessdate=2014-02-24|language=Ukrainian}}</ref> | |||
| On 24 February, more protesters rallied outside the Sevastopol administration offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/24/7016127/ |title=У Севастополі вимагають віддати владу ''вибраному'' на мітингу ''меру '' | Українська правда|language=Ukrainian |publisher=Pravda.com.ua |date= |accessdate=2014-02-24}}</ref> Pro-Russian demonstrators accompanied by neo-Cossacks demanded the selection of a Russian citizen as mayor (which was refused by the city council) and planted Russian flags at city hall; they also handed out leaflets calling for volunteers to a militia and warning that the "]-] Europlague is knocking."<ref>http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-7-decoding-documents-indicting-dictators/#2308</ref> On 25 February, several hundred pro-Russian protesters blocked the Crimean parliament demanding a referendum on Crimea's independence.<ref>http://censor.net.ua/photo_news/272784/prorossiyiskie_sily_zablokirovali_vr_kryma_trebuyut_referenduma_o_nezavisimosti_parlament_sobiraetsya</ref> | |||
| On 25 February, Sevastopol chose ], a Russian citizen, as mayor.{{Fact}} This was controversial because Sevastopol has no mayor as the Chairman of the Sevastopol City State Administration who is appointed by the ] by statute fulfils this role.<ref name=YavlinskyUkr>http://books.google.com/books?id=tedMMgz3RV8C&pg=PA44&dq=Sevastopol++appointed+by+the+President+of+Ukraine&hl=nl&sa=X&ei=gBsOU-fcMuOL0AXknoDYDg&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Sevastopol%20%20appointed%20by%20the%20President%20of%20Ukraine&f=false</ref> A thousand protesters present chanted "a Russian mayor for a Russian city." Crowds gathered again outside Sevastopol's city hall again as rumours spread that security forces could arrest Chaly, but police chief Alexander Goncharov said that his officers would refuse to carry out "criminal orders" issued by the central government. Viktor Neganov, a Sevastopol-based adviser to the interior minister, condemned the events in the city as a coup. "Chaly represents the interests of the Kremlin which likely gave its tacit approval." The Chairman of the Sevastopol City State Administration,{{who}} appointed by the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Yatsuba, was booed and whistled on 23 February when he told a pro-Russian rally that Crimea was a part of Ukraine, he resigned the next day.<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/ukraine-sevastopol-installs-pro-russian-mayor</ref> In Simferopol, the Regional State Administration building was blockaded with hundreds of protesters, including neo-Cossacks, demanding a referendum of separation; the rally was organized by the ].<ref>http://top.rbc.ru/politics/25/02/2014/907178.shtml</ref> | |||
| On 26 February, thousands of protesters clashed in Simferopol.<ref>http://rt.com/news/crimea-ukraine-protest-clashes-840/</ref> Near the ] building between 4,000 and 5,000 ] and supporters of the Euromaidan-Crimea movement faced 600-700 supporters of pro-Russian organisations and the ] Party.<ref name=pRoCRU>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192882.html</ref> Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov said that the Crimean parliament will not discuss the issue of separation from Ukraine and that earlier reports that parliament would discuss the motion were provocations.<ref>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/26/7016360/</ref> During the clashes, one man died of an heart attack. Crimean Tatars created self-defense groups and called on activists to unite with Russian, Ukrainian and people of other nationalities to avoid provocations and to protect churches, mosques, synagogues and other important sites.<ref>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/26/7016376/</ref> By nightfall, the Crimean Tatars had left; several hundred Russian Unity supporters rallied on.<ref>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192985.html</ref> The ]'s acting Interior Minister ] tasked Crimean law enforcement agencies not to provoke conflicts and to do whatever necessary to prevent clashes with pro-Russian forces and added that "I think, that way - through a dialogue - we shall achieve much more than with standoffs "<ref>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192993.html</ref> The new head of the ] (SBU) ] requested ] round-the-clock monitoring of the security situation on the peninsula.<ref>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193029.html</ref> | |||
| ==Political events== | |||
| As an international arrest warrant was issued for Yanukovich, pro and anti-government protests occurred in ].<ref name="bbx2"/> As the protests got more heated, the police intervened to separate the protesters.<ReF>http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/26/world/europe/ukraine-politics/</ref> | |||
| On 26 February, Russian troops took control of the main route of access to ] following orders from Russian President ]. A military checkpoint, with a Russian flag and Russian military vehicles, was set up on the main highway between the city and ].<ref name=globe26>http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tension-in-crimea-as-pro-russia-and-pro-ukraine-groups-stage-competing-rallies/article17110382/#dashboard/follows/?cmpid=tgc</ref> | |||
| ==Reactions== | |||
| ] and ] Speaker ] said to the protesters: "I share your anxiety and concern about the future of Crimea. I declare that I'm not going anywhere and will be here with you. We will fight for an autonomous republic until the end." | |||
| ;Other | |||
| Several scholars have discussed the possibility of Russian military intervention in Crimea specifically, due to its unique geopolitical nature and demographics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Babiak|first=Mat|url=http://ukrainianpolicy.com/is-russia-opening-a-crimean-front/|title=Is Russia Opening a 'Crimean Front'?|publisher=Ukrainian Policy|accessdate=21 February 2014|archiveurl= | |||
| //web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://ukrainianpolicy.com/is-russia-opening-a-crimean-front/|archivedate=21 February 2014}}</ref> In response to this, the ] (SBU) said that "it will use severe measures to prevent any action taken against diminishing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."{{#tag:ref|It also noted that "certain politicians, local government officials, leaders of civil society organizations, and radically inclined individuals have attempted to create grounds for escalating the civil conflict, and have spread autonomous and separatist attitudes among the people, which could lead to the demise of our as a united nation and loss of its national sovereignty." In addition, the statement said that certain lawmakers of every level have begun separatist negotiations with representatives of foreign nations. "Open consultations are being held on the possible division of the country into separate parts in violation of the Ukrainian constitution," read the statement. "This could lead to an escalation of conflict between different sectors of society, inciting ethnic or religious hatred and military conflict."<ref name=kp21live>{{cite news|title=EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine|url= http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=21 February 2014|archiveurl= | |||
| //web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html|archivedate=21 February 2014}}</ref>|group=nb}} The biggest party in the Parliament of Crimea, ] who held 80 of the 100 seats,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/52929/|title=Regions Party gets 80 of 100 seats on Crimean parliament|agency=]|date=11 November 2010|archiveurl= | |||
| //web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/52929/|archivedate=6 June 2012}}</ref> did not discuss issues relating to the separation of Crimea from Ukraine and implied to be supportive of the deal struck between President Yanukovych and the opposition to end the crises signed in Kiev the same day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html|title= Regions of Crimea meeting didn't address separation of Crimea from Ukraine – deputy prime minister of Crimea|agency=Interfax-Ukraine|date=21 February 2014|archiveurl= | |||
| //web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html|archivedate=21 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ===Russia=== | |||
| The ] Committee on ] Affairs, headed by ], visited Simferopol on 25 September and said: "If the parliament of the Crimean autonomy or its residents express the wish to join the Russian Federation, Russia will be prepared to consider this sort of application. We will be examining the situation and doing so fast."<ref>http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/02/25/all_not_quiet_on_ukraine_s_eastern_front</ref> They also stated that in the event of a ] for Crimea region joining Russian Federation they would consider its results "very fast" <ref>http://www.infowars.com/russia-may-be-preparing-to-annex-crimea/</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Российские паспорта и присоединение к РФ: Депутаты Госдумы прибыли в Крым|url=http://gordonua.com/news/politics/Rossiyskie-pasporta-i-prisoedinenie-k-RF-Deputaty-Gosdumy-pribyli-v-Krym-11430.html|language=Ukrainian|newspaper=Gordonua|date=25 February 2014}}</ref>. Later Slutsky announced that he was misunderstood by Crimean press and no decision regarding simplifying the process of acquiring Russian citizenship for people in Crimea has been made yet.<ref>{{cite news|title=В Госдуме опровергли данные о выдаче паспортов РФ жителям Крыма|url=http://www.aif.ru/euromaidan/uanews/1112843|language=Ukrainian|newspaper=]|date=25 February 2014}}</ref> And added that if "fellow Russian citizens are in jeopardy you understand that we do not stay away".<ref>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016276</ref> On 25 February in a meeting with Crimean politicians he stated that Viktor Yanukovych was still the legitimate president of Ukraine.<ref>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016292/</ref> That same day in the Russian Duma, they announced they were determining measures so that Russians in Ukraine who 'did not want to break from the Russian World' could acquire Russian citizenship.<ref>http://www.interfax.ru/world/news/361055</ref> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{reflist|group=nb}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| {{Anti-government protests in the 21st century}} | |||
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