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| www.obac.com.pl | |||
| {{for|the 1783 annexation|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire}} | |||
| {{EngvarB|date=March 2015}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} | |||
| {{Infobox military conflict | |||
| | conflict = Crimean Crisis<br>Annexation of Crimea | |||
| | partof = the ] | |||
| | image = Crimea crisis map (alternate color for Russia).PNG | |||
| | image_size = 251px | |||
| | caption = {{hlist|{{Legend2|#000000|]}} |{{Legend2|#4682B4|]}}| {{Legend2|#32bd52|]}} }} | |||
| | date = 23 February 2014 – 19 March 2014<ref name=CNN>{{cite news | url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/politics/crimea-explainer/ | title=Is Crimea gone? Annexation no longer the focus of Ukraine crisis |publisher=CNN | accessdate= 12 July 2014}}</ref> ({{Age in years, months and days|2014|02|23|2014|03|19}}) | |||
| | place = Crimea | |||
| | coordinates = | |||
| | causes = | |||
| * Russian invasion | |||
| * Opposition by Russia to the ]<ref name="Seccession calls in pro-Russian south"/> | |||
| | status = | |||
| | result = | |||
| * Russia seizes control of Crimea; ] is declared with the intention of joining Russia after a ]. | |||
| * Head of Ukrainian Navy, Admiral Berezovsky defects to the Russian side, followed later by half of Ukrainian military stationed in the region<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/ukrainian-soldiers-on-border-with-crimea-pray-for-peace-prepare-for-war-340963.html |title=Ukrainian soldiers on border with Crimea pray for peace, prepare for war |publisher=Kyivpost.com |date=26 March 2014 |accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/224988-besieged-ukrainian-soldiers-defect-to-russia-as-kiev-prepares-to-pull-25-000-troops-and-their-families-out-of-crimea.html |title=Besieged Ukrainian soldiers DEFECT to Russia as Kiev prepares to pull 25,000 troops and their families out of Crimea |publisher=Georgia Newsday |date=20 March 2014 |accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Bridget Kendall |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26410431 |title=New head of Ukraine's navy defects in Crimea |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2 March 2014 |accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| * Russian forces seize the ] and other key establishments.<ref name=FT15Mar15>{{cite web | date = 15 March 2015 | url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/41873ed2-cb60-11e4-8ad9-00144feab7de.html#axzz3UWZlp2Hr | title=Putin was ready to put nuclear weapons on alert in Crimea crisis |work=Financial Times |last1 = Weaver | first1 = Courtney | accessdate= 16 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=Beast>{{cite web | date = 1 March 2014 | url= http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/01/so-russia-invaded-crimea.html | title=Russia Stages a Coup in Crimea |work=The Daily Beast | accessdate= 2 March 2014}}</ref><ref name = "CNN1">{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/ | title =Gunmen seize government buildings in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag|publisher= CNN | first1 = Marie-Louise | last1 = Gumuchian| first2 = Laura | last2 = Smith-Spark| first3 = Ingrid | last3 = Formanek|date=27 February 2014|accessdate= 27 February 2014}}</ref><ref name = "airport_seizure">{{Citation | url = http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/avakov_nazvav_zahoplennya_aeroportiv_v_krimu_ozbroe_nim_vtorgnennyam_i_okupatsie_yu_1912872 | title = Avakov named seizure of airports in Crimea armed invasion and occupation | agency = ] | date = 28 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] is dissolved, a new pro-Russian ] is installed, Supreme Council votes to join the Russian Federation, and holds a ] on 16 March.<ref name="march6bbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26465962|title=Ukraine crisis: Crimea MPs vote to join Russia|publisher=BBC News|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] between Crimea and Russia at the ] on 18 March to formally initiate Crimea's accession to the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/11209502-95/putin-signs-treaty-to-add-crimea-to-map-of-russia|title=Putin signs treaty to add Crimea to map of Russia|publisher=The Concord Monitor|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * The ] are evicted from their bases on 19 March by Crimean protesters and Russian troops. Ukraine subsequently announces withdrawal of its forces from Crimea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26656617|title=Ukraine 'preparing withdrawal of troops from Crimea'|publisher=BBC News|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| | combatant1 = | |||
| {{flag|Russia}} | |||
| | combatant2 = | |||
| {{flag|Ukraine}} | |||
| | strength1 = '''Protesters''' | |||
| * 20,000 (])<ref name=MTS25214>{{cite news|url= http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-citizen-elected-sevastopol-mayor-amid-pro-moscow-protests-in-crimea/495113.html |title = Russian Citizen Elected Sevastopol Mayor Amid Pro-Moscow Protests in Crimea| work = The Moscow Times | date=25 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="EN25214">{{cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/25/ukraine-leader-turchynov-warns-of-danger-of-separatism/ |title=Ukraine leader Turchynov warns of 'danger of separatism' |publisher=] |date=25 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * 10,000 (])<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/russian-flags-flood-crimean-capital-thousands-back-takeover-russia-2014030 | title = Russian flags flood Crimean capital as thousands back takeover by Russia | work = ] |date= 9 March 2014 | accessdate = 9 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Jednostka Certyfikujaca Ośrodek OBAC prowadzi obligatoryjną oraz dobrowolną certyfikację wyrobów zgodnie z wymaganiami krajowych przepisów branżowych oraz europejskich i międzynarodowych norm związanych z bezpieczeństwem. Specjalizujemy się w ocenie zgodności wyrobów mających zastosowanie w takich obszarach przemysłowych jak: | |||
| '''Volunteer units'''<ref name="EN25214" /><ref name="WPC25214">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-no-new-government-before-thursday/2014/02/25/44355d1e-9e00-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html |title=Pro-Russian rally in Crimea decries Kiev 'bandits' |newspaper=] |date=25 February 2014}}{{dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| *maszynowy | |||
| * 5,000 (Sevastopol) | |||
| *budowlany | |||
| * 1,700 (Simferopol) | |||
| *wydobywczy | |||
| *energetyczny | |||
| '''Russian military forces''' | |||
| *chemiczny | |||
| * 20,000–30,000 troops<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/russia-closing-door-on-crimea-as-troops-build-up-20140312-hvi0c.html|title=Russia closing door on Crimea as troops build up|last=Pollard|first=Ruth|date=13 March 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=12 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| *petrochemiczny | |||
| *spożywczy | |||
| '''Ukrainian Armed Forces defectors''' | |||
| *elektrotechniczny | |||
| * 12,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-troops-leave-crimea-by-busload-defense-minister-resigns-after-russia-seizes-peninsula/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325194933/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-troops-leave-crimea-by-busload-defense-minister-resigns-after-russia-seizes-peninsula/|archivedate=2014-03-25|publisher=CBS News|title=Ukraine troops leave Crimea by busload: Defense minister resigns after Russia seizes peninsula|publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc.|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=25 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| *farmaceutyczny | |||
| *drzewny | |||
| | strength2 = '''Protesters''' | |||
| oraz w takich dziedzinach jak: | |||
| * 4,000–10,000 (Simferopol)<ref name="pRoCRU">{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192882.html |title=Crimean Tatars, pro-Russia supporters approach Crimean parliament building | place = UA |agency= Interfax |date=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=guardian226>{{cite news|title=Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism|work=The Guardian|date=26 February 2014|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| *sprzęt gospodarstwa domowego | |||
| *place zabaw i gier | |||
| '''Ukrainian military forces''' | |||
| *nawierzchnie amortyzujące | |||
| * 5,000–22,000 troops<ref>{{cite web|author=Ewen MacAskill, defence correspondent |url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/ukraine-military-russia-crimea |title=Ukraine military still a formidable force despite being dwarfed by neighbour |work= The Guardian | date= 28 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=285549287 |title=Putin Talks Tough But Cools Tensions Over Ukraine |publisher= ] | date= 4 March 2014 | accessdate= 19 March 2014}}{{Dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| *sprzęt sportowy | |||
| * 40,000 reservists, partly mobilised (outside Crimea)<ref>{{cite news|last=Faiola|first=Anthony|title=Ukraine mobilizes reservists but relies on diplomacy|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-activates-reserves-pledges-military-build-up-after-crimea-vote/2014/03/17/aa707502-adc1-11e3-96dc-d6ea14c099f9_story.html|accessdate=24 March 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| *sprzęt fitness | |||
| | casualties1 = 1 Crimean SDF trooper killed<ref>{{cite news|author=Heather Saul|author2=Kim Sengupta|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-prorussian-troops-storm-naval-base-as-clinton-warns-of-aggression-from-putin-9201317.html|title=Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian troops storm naval base as Clinton warns of 'aggression' from Putin|work=]|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| *meble | |||
| | casualties2 = 2 soldiers killed,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/07/us-ukraine-crisis-military-idUSBREA360GB20140407|title=Russian marine kills Ukraine navy officer in Crimea, says ministry|agency=Reuters|accessdate=2 October 2014}}</ref><br> | |||
| Ceryfikacja wyrobów jest dokonywana w oparciu o: | |||
| 60–80 detained<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine military to pull out from Crimea|url=http://www.thesudburystar.com/2014/03/24/russian-troops-seize-ukraine-marine-base-in-crimea|accessdate=24 March 2014|newspaper=The Sudbury Star|date=24 March 2014|author=Aleksander Vasovic|author2=Gabriela Baczynska|agency=Reuters}}</ref> | |||
| *notyfikację Unii Eurpejskiej | |||
| | casualties3 = 3 protesters killed (2 pro-Russian and 1 pro-Ukrainian)<ref name = RallyDeaths>{{cite news| url = http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/two-die-in-rallies-outside-crimean-parliament-says-ex-head-of-mejlis-337708.html |title= Two die in rallies outside Crimean parliament, says ex-head of Mejlis|work= ]| accessdate= 27 February 2014 | date = 26 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Unrest in Crimea leaves 2 dead; government buildings seized|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/27/Unrest-in-Crimea-leaves-2-dead-government-buildings-seized/6371393516263/|author=JC Finley|agency=]|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=9 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://society.lb.ua/life/2014/03/17/259752_pogibshiy_krimskiy_tatarin_shel.html|script-title=ru:Погибший крымский татарин шел в военкомат, захваченный "дружинниками"|trans-title=The deceased was a Crimean Tatar on his way to enlist when he was captured "vigilantes"|language=ru|work=LB.ua|date=17 March 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="censor">{{cite web|url=http://censor.net.ua/news/276351/zverski_ubitogo_krymskogo_tatarina_zvali_reshat_ametov_troe_maloletnih_deteyi_osiroteli_foto|script-title=ru:Зверски убитого крымского татарина звали Решат Аметов. Трое малолетних детей осиротели.|trans-title=Brutally murdered Crimean Tatar's name was Reşat Ametov. Three toddlers left orphaned.|language=Russian|publisher=censor.net.ua|date=18 March 2014|accessdate=3 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| *akredytację International Electrotechnical Comission IEC | |||
| *akredytację Polskiego Centrum Akredytacji | |||
| | fatalities = | |||
| *dobrowolny znak bezpieczenstwa B | |||
| | injuries = | |||
| *normy krajowe, europejskie, międzynarodowe (m.in. PL, EN, IEC, DIN, GOST, MSHA) | |||
| | arrests = | |||
| *dyrektywy UE | |||
| | detentions = | |||
| *specyfikacje techniczne wskazane przez dostawcę. | |||
| | charged = | |||
| *własne programy certyfikacji OBAC | |||
| | fined = | |||
| | casualties_label = | |||
| | notes = | |||
| }} | |||
| The internationally recognised ] territory of ] was ] by the ] in March 2014. From the time of the annexation on 18 March 2014, Russia has '']'' administered the territory as two ]—the ] and the city of ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/724785|title=Putin signs laws on reunification of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia|publisher=]|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref>—within the ]. The political crisis surrounding the annexation is referred to as the '''Crimean Crisis'''. | |||
| The annexation and ] by Russia took place in the aftermath of the ]. It was a part of the wider ]<ref name="Putin17April" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/23137#sel=161:25,161:51|website=]|date=24 October 2014|quote=I will be frank; we used our Armed Forces to block Ukrainian units stationed in Crimea, but not to force anyone to take part in the elections}}</ref> On 22–23 February, Russian President ] convened an all-night meeting with security services chiefs to discuss extrication of deposed President, Viktor Yanukovych, and at the end of that meeting Putin had remarked that "we must start working on returning Crimea to Russia."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/putin-describes-secret-operation-seize-crimea-212858356.html|title=Putin describes secret operation to seize Crimea|date=8 March 2015|work=Yahoo News|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> On 23 February ] demonstrations were held in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. On 27 February ]<ref name=FT15Mar15 /> took over the ],<ref name=time1>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/19097/putin-crimea-russia-ukraine-aksyonov/|work=Time|title=Putin's Man in Crimea Is Ukraine's Worst Nightmare|author=Simon Shuster|date=10 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015|quote="Before dawn on Feb. 27, at least two dozen heavily armed men stormed the Crimean parliament building and the nearby headquarters of the regional government, bringing with them a cache of assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. A few hours later, Aksyonov walked into the parliament and, after a brief round of talks with the gunmen, began to gather a quorum of the chamber's lawmakers."}}</ref><ref name=reuters1>{{cite news|author=Alissa de Carbonnel|title=How the separatists delivered Crimea to Moscow|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/ukraine-crisis-russia-aksyonov-idINL6N0M93AH20140313|agency=Reuters|date=13 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015|quote=Only a week after gunmen planted the Russian flag on the local parliament, Aksyonov and his allies held another vote and declared parliament was appealing to Putin to annex Crimea}}</ref> which led to the installation of the pro-]n ] government in Crimea, the declaration of ] and the holding of a disputed, unconstitutional ]. | |||
| The event ], as well as ], as an illegal ] of Ukrainian territory, in violation of the ] on sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, signed by Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brookings-now/posts/2014/03/nato-secretary-general-russia-annexation-crimea-illegal-illegitimate|title=NATO Secretary-General: Russia's Annexation of Crimea Is Illegal and Illegitimate|publisher=]|author=Fred Dews|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015}}</ref> It led to the other members of the then ] temporarily suspending Russia from the group,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-temporarily-kicked-out-of-g8-club-of-rich-countries-2014-3|title=Russia Temporarily Kicked Out of G8 Club of Rich Countries|publisher=Business Insider|author=Bruno Waterfield|author2=Peter Dominiczak|author3=David Blair|author4=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015}}</ref> then introducing ] against the country. | |||
| Russia opposes the "annexation" label,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/3/21/678310.html|script-title=ru:Лавров назвал оскорбительными заявления Запада об аннексии Крыма|trans-title=Lavrov called Western declarations about the annexation of Crimea as being offensive|language=Russian|date=21 March 2014|work=]|accessdate=8 March 2015}}</ref> with Putin defending the referendum saying it complied with international law.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/16/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140316|title=Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine for Russia|author=Mike Collett-White|author2=Ronald Popeski|agency=Reuters|date=16 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015}}</ref> Ukraine disputes this, as it does not recognise the independence of the Republic of Crimea or the accession itself as legitimate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1139-18|script-title=uk:Декларація "Про боротьбу за звільнення України"|trans-title=Declaration "On the struggle for the liberation of Ukraine"|language=uk|author=Oleksandr Turchynov|publisher=Parliament of Ukraine|date=20 March 2014|accessdate=24 April 2014}}</ref> The ] also rejected the vote and annexation, adopting a ] ] affirming the "territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders".<ref name="CCTV UNR C=U">{{cite web|url=http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml|title=UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity|publisher=]|date=28 March 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/455/19/PDF/N1345519.pdf?OpenElement|title=United Nations A/RES/68/262 General Assembly|publisher=United Nations|format=PDF|date=1 April 2014|accessdate=24 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| {{TOC limit|limit=3}} | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| {{main|Historical background of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine#Crimea}} | |||
| Crimea became part of the ] in 1783. It was incorporated into it as {{Link-interwiki|en = Taurida Oblast|lang = ru|lang_title = Таврическая область}}. In 1795, Crimea was merged into ], and in 1803, it was again separated from it into ]. A series of short-lived governments (], ], ]) were established during first stages of the ], but they were followed by ] (], later ]) and, finally, Soviet (]) incorporations of Crimea into their own states. After ] and the ], the Crimean ASSR was stripped of its autonomy in 1946 and was downgraded to the ] of an ]. | |||
| In 1954, the Crimean Oblast was ] from the ] to the ] by decree of the ] of the ]. However, it was unclear whether the transfer affected the peninsula's largest city of ], which enjoyed a special status in the postwar Soviet Union,<ref>See, for example, {{cite web|url=http://sevkrimrus.narod.ru/texstes/fedorov.htm#3-2|title=3.2: Правовой статус Севастополя в составе РСФСР|trans-title=3.2: The legal status of Sevastopol as part of RSFSR|author=A. V. Fedorov|website=sevkrimrus.narod.ru|publisher=]|language=Russian|publication-place=]|publication-date=1997}}</ref> and in 1993, the ] claimed Sevastopol was part of ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.materik.ru/observer/N21_93/21_01.HTM|script-title=ru:Севастополь: вчера и сегодня в документах|trans-title=Sevastopol: yesterday and today in documents|publisher=observer.materik.ru|series=Обозреватель - Observer|publication-date=1993|language=Russian}}</ref> resulting in a territorial dispute with Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.day.kiev.ua/ru/article/podrobnosti/sverhnaglost-srabotaet|script-title=ru:"Сверхнаглость" сработает? Севастополь: псевдоюридические аргументы Ю.М.Лужкова|website=day.kiev.ua|author=Igor Losev|date=19 September 2008|language=Russian}}</ref> | |||
| {{See also|Political status of Crimea#Status of Sevastopol}} | |||
| In 1989, under ], the Supreme Soviet declared the deportation of the ] under ] had been illegal,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.alexanderyakovlev.org/fond/issues-doc/67942|script-title=ru:Декларация Верховного Совета СССР "О признании незаконными и преступными репрессивных актов против народов, подвергшихся насильственному переселению, и обеспечении их прав"|year = 1989|language = Russian}}</ref> and the mostly ] ethnic group was allowed to return to Crimea.<ref>"The Crimean Tatars began repatriating on a massive scale beginning in the late 1980s and continuing into the early 1990s. The population of Crimean Tatars in Crimea rapidly reached 250,000 and leveled off at 270,000 where it remains as of this writing . There are believed to be between 30,000 and 100,000 remaining in places of former exile in Central Asia." | |||
| Greta Lynn Uehling, ''The Crimean Tatars'' (Encyclopedia of the Minorities, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn) </ref> | |||
| In 1990, the Crimean Oblast Soviet proposed the restoration of the Crimean ASSR.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sevkrimrus.narod.ru/ZAKON/1990obl.htm|script-title=ru:ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ О ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ И ПРАВОВОМ СТАТУСЕ КРЫМА|year = 1990|language = Russian}}</ref> The oblast conducted a ] in 1991, which asked whether Crimea should be elevated into a signatory of the ] (that is, became a ] on its own). By that time, though, the ] was well underway. The Crimean ASSR was restored for less than a year as part of ] before ]. Newly independent ] maintained Crimea's ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1213%D0%B0-12|title = Про внесення змін і доповнень до Конституції... від 19.06.1991 № 1213а-XII|language = Ukrainian|date = 19 June 1991}}</ref> while the ] affirmed the peninsula's "state sovereignty".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/krym/show/rb001d002-91 |script-title=ru:Декларация о государственном суверенитете Крыма |author=Parliament of Ukraine |publisher=Government of Ukraine |date=17 November 1994 |accessdate=24 April 2014|language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/krym/show/rb0019002-92 |script-title=ru:О Республике Крым как официальном названии демократического государства Крым |author=Parliament of Ukraine |publisher=Government of Ukraine |date=20 October 1999 |accessdate=24 April 2014|language=ru}}</ref> | |||
| {{Further|Political status of Crimea#Background}} | |||
| On 21 May 1992, the Supreme Soviet of ] adopted a ], which declared Crimea's 1954 transfer invalid and called for trilateral negotiations on the peninsula's status. Confrontation between the president and parliament of Russia, which later ], prevented this declaration from having any actual effect in Crimea or Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.kp.ru/daily/26205/3091201|title = Руслан Хасбулатов – "КП": Передайте Обаме – Крым и Севастополь могли войти в Россию ещё 20 лет назад! // KP.RU|date = 12 March 2014|website = ]|last = Gamov|first = Alexander|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| From 1992 to 1994, various pro-Russian political movements attempted to separate Crimea from Ukraine. The 1994 regional elections represented a high point for pro-Russian political factions in Crimea.<ref name="polunov">{{cite web|url=http://e-journal.spa.msu.ru/uploads/vestnik/2009/vipusk__21._dekabr_2009_g./polunov.pdf|author=Alexandr Polunov|script-title=ru:Общественные организации русского Крыма: политическая деятельность, стратегии взаимоотношений с властью|trans-title=Russian public organizations of Crimea: political activities and strategic relations with the authorities|language=ru|format=PDF|publisher=Public administration|series=No 21|publication-date=December 2009|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> But the elections came at a difficult time for Crimeans who wanted to rejoin Russia, as the Russian government was engaged in a rapprochement with the ] and the Ukrainian government was determined to safeguard its sovereignty. These factors enabled Ukrainian authorities to abolish the Crimean presidency and constitution by 1995,<ref> {{uk icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/92/95-%D0%B2%D1%80|script-title=uk:Про скасування Конституції і деяких законів Автономної Республіки Крим Верховна Рада України; Закон від 17 March 1995 № 92/95-ВР|date = 18 March 1995|language = Ukrainian}}</ref> without any meaningful interference or protest from Ukraine's eastern neighbour. Afterwards, pro-Russian movements largely waned, and in 1998, the separatists lost the Crimean Supreme Council election.<ref name="polunov" /> | |||
| During the 2000s, as tensions between Russia and several of its neighbours rose, the likelihood of Russian-Ukrainian conflict around Crimea increased. A ] report released in 2009 outlined a scenario under which Russia could intervene in Crimea to protect "Russian compatriots", potentially with the backing of Crimean Tatars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/CPA_contingencymemo_3.pdf|title=Crisis Between Ukraine and Russia|publisher=Center for Preventive Action of the Council on Foreign Affairs|format=PDF|last=Pifer|first=Steven|date=July 2009}}</ref> | |||
| === Euromaidan and the Ukrainian revolution === | |||
| {{main|Euromaidan|2014 Ukrainian revolution}} | |||
| The ] movement began in late November 2013 with protests in ] against pro-Russian President ], who won ] in 2010 with strong support in the ] and ] and ]. The Crimean government strongly supported Yanukovych and condemned the protests, saying they were "threatening political stability in the country". The ] supported the ]'s decision to suspend negotiations on the pending ] and urged Crimeans to "strengthen friendly ties with Russian regions".<ref> – ], 27 ноября 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11433|script-title=ru:Решение ВР АРК от 27 November 2013 № 1477-6/13 "О политической ситуации"|date = 27 November 2013|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11551|script-title=ru:Заявление ВР АРК от 22 January 2014 № 29-6/14-ВР "О политической ситуации"|date = 22 January 2014|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| On 4 February 2014, the Presidium of the Supreme Council considered holding a referendum on the peninsula's status and asking the ] to guarantee the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rada.crimea.ua/news/04_02_14_3|script-title=ru:Защитить статус и полномочия Крыма!|date = 4 February 2014|publisher = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> The ] responded by opening a ] to investigate the possible "subversion" of Ukraine's territorial integrity.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unian.net/politics/884848-kryimskie-tataryi-gotovyi-dat-otpor-popyitkam-ottorjeniya-avtonomii-ot-ukrainyi-chubarov.html|title=Крымские татары готовы дать отпор попыткам отторжения автономии от Украины – Чубаров.|date=16 February 2014|agency=Ukrainian Independent Information Agency|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The Euromaidan protests reached a fever pitch in February 2014, and Yanukovych and many of his ministers fled the capital. After opposition factions and defectors from Yanukovych's ] cobbled together a parliamentary quorum in the ], the national legislature voted on 22 February to remove Viktor Yanukovych from his post on the grounds that he was unable to fulfill his duties,<ref name="EnUkrRev">{{cite news|title=Archrival Is Freed as Ukraine Leader Flees|work=]|date=22 February 2014|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine.html?_r=0|accessdate=23 February 2014}}</ref> although the legislative removal lacked the required three quarter vote of sitting MPs according to the constitution in effect at the time, which the Rada also voted to nullify.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Feffer|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-feffer/who-are-these-people-anyw_b_4964526.html|title=Who Are These 'People,' Anyway?|work=The Huffington Post|date=14 March 2014|accessdate=17 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="interfax1">{{cite news|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192030.html|title=Rada removes Yanukovych from office, schedules new elections for May 25|agency=]|date=22 February 2014|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=RadioFreeEurope>{{cite web|last=Sindelar |first=Daisy |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html |title=Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? |publisher=Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (Rferl.org) |date=23 February 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2014}}</ref> This move was regarded as a ] by many within Ukraine and Russia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/news/lavrov-crimea-ukraine-west-181/ |title=Lavrov: If West accepts coup-appointed Kiev govt, it must accept a Russian Crimea — RT News |publisher=RT|location=Russia |date=30 March 2014 |accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref> although it was widely recognised internationally.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-yanukovych-tymoshenko-live-updates|work=The Guardian|title=Ukraine MPs appoint interim president as Yanukovych allies dismissed – 23 February as it happened|date=23 February 2014|accessdate=12 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| {{see also|Anti-Maidan|2014–15 Russian military intervention in Ukraine}} | |||
| {{details|Timeline of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation}} | |||
| ===Crimean crisis begins=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The ] that ousted Ukrainian president ] sparked a political crisis in Crimea, which initially manifested as ] against the new ], but rapidly escalated due to ]'s overt support for separatist political factions. On 23 February, the '']'' reported that in ] thousands protested against the new authorities and voted to establish a parallel administration and civil defence squads. Speakers stated that in Simferopol about 5,000 people had joined already such units. Protesters waved Russian flags and chanted "Putin is our president" and claimed they would refuse to pay further taxes to the state. The Berkut police were given a heroes welcome in the city by the locals<ref name="Seccession calls in pro-Russian south">{{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> | |||
| On 27 February, unidentified troops widely suspected of being ] seized the ] of the Supreme Council of Crimea (the regional parliament) and the building of the Council of Ministers in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/crimea-ukraine.html?_r=0|title=Gunmen Seize Government Buildings in Crimea|author=Andrew Higgins|author2=Steven Erlanger|work=The New York Times|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://estonianworld.com/security/lessons-identified-crimea-estonias-national-defence-model-meet-needs/|agency=Estonian World|title=Lessons identified in Crimea – does Estonia's national defence model meet our needs?|date=5 May 2014|accessdate=12 June 2014}}</ref> ] were raised over these buildings,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/|title = Gunmen seize government buildings in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag|date = 27 February 2014|publisher = CNN|last = Gumuchian|first = Marie-Louise|last2 = Smith-Spark|first2 = Laura|last3 = Formanek|first3 = Ingrid}}</ref> and ]s were erected outside them.<ref name="LentaBerkut">{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/27/berkut/|title=Lenta.ru: Бывший СССР: Украина: Украинский депутат объявил о бунте крымского "Беркута"}}</ref> Whilst the "]" were occupying the Crimean parliament building, the parliament held an emergency session.<ref name=interfax27feb>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193292.html Number of Crimean deputies present at referendum resolution vote unclear]. ], 27 February 2014.</ref><ref name=reuters13mar>. ], 13 March 2014.</ref> It voted to terminate the Crimean government, and replace Prime Minister ] with ].<ref name="The Christian Science Monitor">, (27 February 2014).</ref> Aksyonov belonged to the ] party, which received 4% of the vote in the last election.<ref name=reuters13mar/> According to the ], the Prime Minister of Crimea is appointed by the Supreme Council of Crimea in consultation with the ].<ref name="Yanu'snewPMC">, ] (7 November 2011).</ref><ref>{{uk icon}} , ] (27 February 2014).</ref> Both Aksyonov and speaker Vladimir Konstantinov stated that they viewed Viktor Yanukovych as the ''de jure'' ], through whom they were able to ask Russia for assistance.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/27/truepresident/|script-title=ru:Крымские власти объявили о подчинении Януковичу|date = 28 February 2014|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| The parliament also voted to hold a referendum on greater autonomy on 25 May. The troops had cut all of the building's communications, and took MPs' phones as they entered.<ref name=interfax27feb/><ref name=reuters13mar/> No independent journalists were allowed inside the building while the votes were taking place.<ref name=reuters13mar/> Some MPs claimed they were being threatened and that votes were cast for them and other MPs, even though they were not in the chamber.<ref name=reuters13mar/> ] reported "it is impossible to find out whether all the 64 members of the 100-member legislature who were registered as present at when the two decisions were voted on or whether someone else used the plastic voting cards of some of them" because due to the armed occupation of parliament it was unclear how many MPs were present.<ref name="IUCR27214">, ] (27 February 2014).</ref> The head of parliament's information and analysis department, Olha Sulnikova, had phoned from inside the ] to journalists and had told them 61 of the registered 64 deputies had voted for the referendum resolution and 55 for the resolution to dismiss the government.<ref name="IUCR27214" /> Donetsk People's Republic separatist ] said in January 2015 that Crimean members of parliament were held at gunpoint, and were forced to support the annexation.<ref name="KP11MA2015">{{cite news | url=https://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/putins-narrative-on-crimea-annexation-takes-an-evolutionary-leap-383183.html | title=Putin's narrative on Crimea annexation takes an evolutionary leap | work=Kyiv Post | date=11 March 2015 | accessdate=12 March 2015}}</ref> These actions were immediately declared illegal by the Ukrainian interim government.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://obozrevatel.com/politics/08249-turchinov-izdal-ukaz-o-nezakonnosti-izbraniya-novogo-premera-kryima.htm|script-title=uk:Турчинов издал указ о незаконности избрания нового премьера Крыма|date = 1 March 2014|language = Ukrainian}}</ref> | |||
| On the same day, more troops in unmarked uniforms, assisted this time by Crimean riot police known as '']'', established ]s on the ] and the ], which separate Crimea from the Ukrainian mainland.<ref name="LentaBerkut" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vizit.ks.ua/news/post_chongar_kontroliruet_krymskij_berkut_podchinennyj_janukovichu/2014-02-27-3148|title=ПОСТ "ЧОНГАР" КОНТРОЛИРУЕТ КРЫМСКИЙ "БЕРКУТ" ПОДЧИНЕННЫЙ ЯНУКОВИЧУ видео) - 27 Февраля 2014 - "Новый Визит" Генический информационный портал}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.allcrimea.net/news/2014/2/27/na-chongarskom-perevale-dezhurit-berkut-i-nekie-grazhdanskie-litsa-6025/|script-title=ru:На Чонгарском перешейке дежурит «Беркут» и некие гражданские лица|trans-title="Berkut" and some civilians act as sentries at Chongarsky Isthmus|language=ru|publisher=news.allcrimea.net|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://armyansk.info/news/news-archive/120-2014/4592-pod-armyansk-styanulis-siloviki-iz-berkuta|title=Армянск Информационный - Под Армянск стянулись силовики из "Беркута"|author=Армянск Информационный}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/28/blockpost/|title=Lenta.ru: Бывший СССР: Украина: СМИ сообщили о блокпостах "Беркута" на въездах в Крым}}</ref> Within hours, Ukraine had effectively been cut off from Crimea. | |||
| ]" in Simferopol, 2 March 2014]] | |||
| On 1 March 2014, Aksyonov declared Crimea's new ''de facto'' authorities would exercise control of all Ukrainian military installations on the peninsula. He also asked Russian President ], who had been Yanukovych's primary international backer and guarantor, for "assistance in ensuring peace and public order" in Crimea.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1013127|title = Премьер-министр Крыма попросил Путина о помощи|agency = ]}}</ref> Putin promptly received authorisation from the ] for a ] "until normalization of a socio-political environment in the country".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kremlin.ru/news/20353|script-title=ru:Владимир Путин внёс обращение в Совет Федерации|website=kremlin.ru|language=Russian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://council.gov.ru/media/documents/pdf/41d4c5222e07062d3f21.pdf|script-title=ru:Постановление Совета Федерации Федерального Собрания Российской Федерации от 1 марта 2014 года № 48-СФ "Об использовании Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации на территории Украины"|website=Federation Council of Russia council.gov.ru|format=PDF|language=Russian}}</ref> Putin's swift manoeuvre prompted ] and ] against a Russian military campaign in Crimea. By 2 March, Russian troops moving from the country's naval base in ] and reinforced by troops, armour, and helicopters from mainland Russia exercised complete control over the Crimean Peninsula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-force-in-crimea/article5739708.ece |title=Russian Parliament approves use of army in Ukraine.}}</ref><ref name="walker-the-guardian-2014-descend">{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=4 March 2014 |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-crisis-russian-troops-crimea-john-kerry-kiev |title=Russian takeover of Crimea will not descend into war, says Vladimir Putin |newspaper=] |accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg-news-2014-request">{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-04/russia-calls-ukraine-intervention-legal-citing-yanukovych-letter |title=Russia Stays in Ukraine as Putin Channels Yanukovych Request |first1=Sangwon |last1=Yoon |first2=Daryna |last2=Krasnolutska |first3=Kateryna |last3=Choursina |date=4 March 2014 |newspaper=] |deadurl=no |accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref> Russian troops operated in Crimea without insignia. Despite numerous media reports and statements by the Ukrainian and foreign governments describing the unmarked troops as Russian soldiers, government officials ] the identity of their forces, claiming they were local "self-defense" units over whom they had no authority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/05/us-ukraine-crisis-lavrov-spain-idUSBREA240NF20140305 |title=Russia says cannot order Crimean 'self-defense' units back to base.}}</ref> As late as 17 April, Russian foreign minister Lavrov claimed that there are no spare armed forces in the territory of Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/F34A66F8958B302544257CBF00438FD7 |title=Speech by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his answers to questions from the mass media summarising the meeting with EU, Russian, US and Ukrainian representatives, Geneva, 17 April 2014.}}</ref> | |||
| Russian officials eventually admitted to their troops' presence. On 17 April 2014, Putin acknowledged the Russian military backed Crimean separatist militias, stating that Russia's intervention was necessary "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will".<ref name="Putin17April">{{cite web|url = http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/7034|title = Direct Line with Vladimir Putin|website = ]|date = 17 April 2014}}</ref> Defense Minister ] said the country's military actions in Crimea were undertaken by forces of the ] and were justified by "threat to lives of Crimean ]s" and danger of "takeover of Russian military infrastructure by ]".<ref>{{cite news|url = http://tass.ru/politika/1097051|script-title=ru:Шойгу: действия Минобороны РФ в Крыму были вызваны угрозой жизни мирного населения|agency = ]|date = 4 April 2014|language = Russian}}</ref> Ukraine complained that by increasing its troop presence in Crimea, Russia violated the agreement under which it headquartered its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/russia_redeploys_ships_of_baltic_and_northern_fleets_to_sevastopol_violates_agreement_with_ukraine_317983|title = Russia redeploys ships of Baltic and Northern fleets to Sevastopol, violates agreement with Ukraine|date = 3 March 2014|agency = ]}}</ref> and violated the country's ].<ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/charlescrawford/100262865/vladimir-putins-illegal-occupation-of-crimea-is-an-attempt-to-put-europes-borders-up-for-grabs/|author=Charles Crawford|title=Vladimir Putin's illegal occupation of Crimea is an attempt to put Europe's borders up for grabs|date=10 Mar 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> The ] and ] also accused Russia of breaking the terms of the ], by which Russia, the US, and the UK had reaffirmed their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the ] or political independence of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/20572-spilyna-zajava-ukrajini-ta-spoluchenih-shtativ-ameriki|title=25 March 2014|work=]|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref> The Russian government said the Budapest Memorandum did not apply due to "complicated internal processes" in Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140520_rn_medvedev_ukraine.shtml|script-title=ru:Медведев: Россия не гарантирует целостность Украины|trans-title=Medvedev: Russia does not guarantee the integrity of Ukraine|language=ru|publisher=BBC|date=20 May 2014|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mid.ru/BDOMP/Brp_4.nsf/arh/B173CC77483EDEB944257CAF004E64C1?|title=Statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding accusations of Russia's violation of its obligations under the Budapest Memorandum of 5 December 1994|work=]|date=1 May 2014|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref> In March 2015 retired Russian Admiral Igor Kasatonov stated that according to his information the Russian troop deployment in Crimea included six helicopter landings and three landings of ] with 500 people.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150313/1019448901.html |title=NATO Recon Missed Everything: Admiral Reveals Details of Crimea Operation|publisher=]| date=13 March 2015| accessdate = 13 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| === Legal obstacles to Crimea annexation === | |||
| {{see also|Declaration of Independence of Crimea}} | |||
| {{Crimean Crisis of 2014}} | |||
| The Russian-Ukrainian ]{{efn|Dilanian (2014) "CIA director John Brennan told a senior lawmaker Monday that a 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion, U.S. officials said."<ref name="Dilanian">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-us-intelligence-russia-ukraine-20140303-story.html |title=CIA reportedly says Russia sees treaty as justifying Ukraine moves |newspaper=] |date=3 March 2014 |accessdate=12 March 2014 |first=Ken |last=Dilanian }}</ref>}} signed in 1997 and prolonged in 2010, determined the status of the military bases and vessels in Crimea prior to the current crisis. Russia was allowed to maintain up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems (with a calibre smaller than 100 mm), 132 armoured vehicles, and 22 military planes, on military base in Sevastopol and related infrastructure on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian ] had basing rights in ] until 2042. Usage of navigation stations and troop movements were improperly covered by the treaty and were violated many times as well as related court decisions. February troop movements were in "complete disregard" of the treaty.<ref name="Yeroshko">{{cite news|last=Yeroshko|first=Iryna|title=Ukraine: Russia shows 'complete disregard' for Black Sea Fleet agreement in Crimea|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/what-parts-of-the-black-sea-fleet-agreement-is-russia-violating-338358.html|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=4 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Both Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the ]. The ratification of said charter has several ramifications in terms of ], particularly those that cover the subjects of ], ], ], ], and ]. ] has claimed that Russian troops in the Crimean peninsula were aimed "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/7034 |title= Direct Line with Vladimir Putin |date= 17 April 2014 |website= |publisher= kremlin.ru|accessdate= 17 April 2014 }}</ref> whilst Ukraine and other nations argue that such intervention is a violation of ].<ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk"/> | |||
| The Russian President also noted that the United Nations ] handed down an advisory opinion in 2010 saying unambiguously that the unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo (for which there was no referendum nor agreement from Belgrade) was not prohibited by international law.<ref>"{{cite web| url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6889|title= Address by President of the Russian Federation| quote = Moreover, the Crimean authorities referred to the well-known Kosovo precedent – a precedent our western colleagues created with their own hands in a very similar situation, when they agreed that the unilateral separation of ] from ], exactly what Crimea is doing now, was legitimate and did not require any permission from the country's central authorities. Pursuant to Article 2, Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter, the UN International Court agreed with this approach and made the following comment in its ruling of July 22, 2010, and I quote: "No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence," and "General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence." Crystal clear, as they say. |date= 18 March 2014|website=]|accessdate=18 March 2014}}</ref> On the other hand, ] and ] point out that by annexing<!-- as in the Joint statement --> Crimea Russia violated terms of the ], by which Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their obligation to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine (including Crimea) and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the ] or political independence of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/20572-spilyna-zajava-ukrajini-ta-spoluchenih-shtativ-ameriki|title=Joint Statement by the United States and Ukraine|work=mfa.gov.ua|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| The United States does not consider the Memorandum binding.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://minsk.usembassy.gov/budapest_memorandum.html |title=Belarus: Budapest Memorandum | publisher=U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus |date=2013-04-12 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> | |||
| ] military base, 9 March 2014]] | |||
| {{Anchor|Declaration of Independence: a letter of intent}}According to the Constitution of Russia, the admission of new federal subjects is governed by federal constitutional law (art. 65.2).<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url = http://constitution.garant.ru/english/|title = Constitution of the Russian Federation}}</ref> Such a law was adopted in 2001, and it postulates that admission of a foreign state or its part into Russia shall be based on a mutual accord between the Russian Federation and the relevant state and shall take place pursuant to an international treaty between the two countries; moreover, it must be initiated by the state in question, not by its subdivision or by Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2014)004-e|title = Opinion on "Whether Draft Federal constitutional Law No. 462741-6 on amending the Federal constitutional Law of the Russian Federation on the procedure of admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject within the Russian Federation is compatible with international law" endorsed by the Venice Commission at its 98th Plenary Session (Venice, 21-22 March 2014)|publisher = ]|date = 21–22 March 2014}}</ref> This law would have seemed to require that Ukraine initiate any negotiations involving a Crimean annexation by Russia. | |||
| On 28 February 2014, Russian MP ], along with certain other members of the Duma, introduced a bill to alter Russia's procedure for adding federal subjects. According to the bill, accession could be initiated by a subdivision of a country, provided that there is "absence of efficient sovereign state government in foreign state"; the request could be made either by subdivision bodies on their own or on the basis of a referendum held in the subdivision in accordance with corresponding national legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-REF(2014)011-e |title=Draft Federal Constitutional Law of the Russian Federation 'amending the Federal Constitutional Law on the Procedure of Admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject of the Russian Federation in its composition' of the Russian Federation (translation) |date=10 March 2014}}</ref> The ] stated that the bill violated "in particular, the principles of territorial integrity, national sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of another state and ]" and was therefore incompatible with ].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2014)004-e|title = CDL-AD(2014)004-e Opinion on "Whether Draft Federal constitutional Law No. 462741-6 on amending the Federal constitutional Law of the Russian Federation on the procedure of admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject within the Russian Federation is compatible with international law" endorsed by the Venice Commission at its 98th Plenary Session (Venice, 21-22 March 2014)|publisher = ]|date=March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 11 March 2014, both the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council adopted a ], which stated their intent to declare independence and request full accession to Russia in case the pro-Russian answer received the most votes during the scheduled status referendum. The declaration directly referred to the ], by which the ]-populated ] declared independence from Russia's ally ] as the ] in 2008—a unilateral action Russia ]. Many analysts saw the Crimean declaration as an overt effort to pave the way for Crimea's annexation by Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2014/03/11/verhovnyj-sovet-kryma-prinyal-deklaraciyu-nezavisimosti|script-title=ru:Крым определился, каким способом войдет в Россию|date = 11 March 2014|publisher = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| Crimean authorities' stated plans to declare independence from Ukraine made the Mironov bill unnecessary. On 20 March 2014, two days after the ] was signed, the bill was withdrawn by its initiators.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://asozd2.duma.gov.ru/main.nsf/%28SpravkaNew%29?OpenAgent&RN=462741-6&02|script-title=ru:Законопроект № 462741-6 О внесении изменений в Федеральный конституционный закон "О порядке принятия в Российскую Федерацию и образования в ее составе нового субъекта Российской Федерации" (в части расширения предмета правового регулирования названного Федерального конституционного закона)|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| === Crimean status referendum === | |||
| {{Main|Crimean status referendum, 2014}} | |||
| On 27 February, following the takeover of its building, the ] voted to hold a ] on 25 May, with the initial question as to whether Crimea should upgrade its autonomy within Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11610 |title=Постановление ВР АРК "Об организации и проведении республиканского (местного) референдума по вопросам усовершенствования статуса и полномочий Автономной Республики Крым" |publisher=Rada.crimea.ua |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> The referendum date was later moved from 25 May to 30 March.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.interfax.ru/world/362023|script-title=ru:Аксенов: перенос референдума в Крыму связан с тем, что конфликт вышел за пределы разумного|agency = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> A Ukrainian court declared the referendum to be illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unian.net/politics/892973-sud-priznal-nezakonnyimi-naznachenie-aksenova-premerom-i-provedenie-referenduma-v-kryimu.html |title=Суд признал незаконными назначение Аксенова премьером и проведение референдума в Крыму |agency=Ukrainian Independent Information Agency |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 4 March, Russian President ] claimed Russia was not considering annexing Crimea. He said of the peninsula that "only citizens themselves, in conditions of free expression of will and their security can determine their future".<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.interfax.ru/362633|script-title=ru:Россия не рассматривает вариант присоединения Крыма к России|date = 4 March 2014|agency = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> Putin later acknowledged that he had ordered "work to bring Crimea back into Russia" as early as February.<ref name=bbc-doc-crimea-plans>{{cite web|title=Putin reveals secrets of Russia's Crimea takeover plot|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31796226|publisher=BBC|accessdate=9 March 2015}}<br/>{{cite news |last=Soldatkin |first=Vladimir |last2=Stamp |first2=David |date=9 March 2014 |title=Putin says plan to take Crimea hatched before referendum |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/09/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-crimea-idUSKBN0M51DG20150309 |agency=Reuters |access-date=10 March 2015 }}</ref> He also acknowledged that in early March there were "secret opinion polls" held in Crimea, which, according to him, reported overwhelming popular support for Crimea's incorporation into Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://tass.ru/politika/1111359|script-title=ru:Путин: Россия не планировала присоединять Крым|date = 10 April 2014|agency = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| On 6 March, the Supreme Council moved the ] date to 16 March and changed its scope to ask a new question: whether Crimea should accede to Russia or restore the 1992 constitution within Ukraine, which the Ukrainian government had previously invalidated. This referendum, unlike one announced earlier, contained no option to maintain the ''status quo'' of governance under the 1998 constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/world-ukraine-crisis-referendum/1869197.html|script-title=ru:Референдум в Крыму: ответ "нет" не предусмотрен|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| On 14 March, the Crimean status referendum was deemed unconstitutional by the ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://24tv.ua/news/showNews.do?ks_priznal_nekonstitutsionnim_postanovlenie_o_provedenii_referenduma_v_krimu&objectId=420886&lang=ru|title = КС признал неконституционным постановление о проведении референдума в Крыму - Видео}}</ref> and a day later, the ] formally dissolved the Crimean parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/891-18|script-title=uk:Про дострокове припинення повноважень Верховної Ради Автономної Республіки Крим|language = Ukrainian}}</ref> | |||
| The referendum was held despite the opposition from Kiev. Official results reported about 95% of participating voters in Crimea and Sevastopol were in favour of joining Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/16/polls-open-in-crimea-referendum-amid-high-tensions/|title=Crimea referendum Wide condemnation after region votes to split from Ukraine Fox News|publisher=]|date=16 March 2014}}</ref> The results of referendum are questioned,<ref>{{cite news|last=Halimah|first=Halimah|title=Crimea's vote: Was it legal?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/ukraine-vote-legality/|accessdate=19 March 2014|publisher=CNN|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> Another report by Evgeny Bobrov, a member of the Russian President's Human Rights Council, suggested the official results were inflated and only 15% to 30% of Crimeans actually voted for the Russian option.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation/|title=Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results|author=Paul Roderick Gregory|date=5 May 2014|work=Forbes}}</ref><ref name="Washington Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/05/06/russian-government-agency-reveals-fraudulent-nature-of-the-crimean-referendum-results/|title=Russian government agency reveals fraudulent nature of the Crimean referendum results|work=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref> {{ru icon}}</ref> | |||
| The means by which the referendum was conducted were widely criticised by foreign governments and in the Ukrainian and international press, with reports that anyone holding a Russian passport regardless of residency in Crimea was allowed to vote. However, Russia defended the integrity of the voting process, and a group of ] observers, principally from ] and ] political parties aligned with Putin, said the referendum was conducted in a free and fair manner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/anton-shekhovtsov/kremlin%E2%80%99s-marriage-of-convenience-with-european-far-right|agency=oDR|title=The Kremlin's marriage of convenience with the European far right|date=28 April 2014|accessdate=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/buitenland/1.1908165|agency=De Redactie|language=Dutch|title=Extreemrechtse partijen uitgenodigd op referendum Krim|date=13 March 2014|accessdate=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/referendum-day-in-crimeas-simferopol/a-17500378|publisher=Deutsche Welle|title=Referendum day in Crimea's Simferopol|date=16 March 2014|accessdate=12 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| === Breakaway republic === | |||
| On 17 March, following the official announcement of the ] results, the ] declared the formal independence of the ''']''', comprising the territories of both the ] and the city of ], which was granted special status within the breakaway republic.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11748|script-title=ru:Постановление Верховной Рады Автономной Республики Крым от 17 марта 2014 года № 1745-6/14 "О независимости Крыма"|website = rada.crimea.ua|language = Russian}}</ref> The Crimean parliament declared the "partial repeal" of Ukrainian laws and began nationalising private and Ukrainian state property located on the Crimean Peninsula, including Ukrainian ]s<ref>{{cite web|url = http://nbnews.com.ua/ru/news/115865/|script-title=ru:Парламент Крыма национализировал порты полуострова и их имущество|website = nbnews.com.ua|language = Russian|date = 17 March 2014}}</ref> and property of ].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://glavred.info/ekonomika/krym-nacionaliziroval-chernomorneftegaz-274301.html|script-title=ru:Крым национализировал "Черноморнефтегаз"|website = glavred.info|date = 17 March 2014|language = Russian}}</ref> Parliament also formally requested that the ] admit the breakaway republic into Russia.<ref name="guardian20140317">{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/17/ukraine-crimea-russia-referendum-complain-result|title=Crimea applies to be part of Russian Federation after vote to leave Ukraine|work=The Guardian|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> On same day, the ''de facto'' Supreme Council renamed itself the Crimean State Council,<ref>{{cite news|url = http://ria.ru/world/20140317/999851464.html|script-title=ru:Крым начал процедуру присоединения к РФ, объявив о независимости|agency = ]|language = Russian|date = 17 March 2014}}</ref> declared the ] an official currency alongside the ],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/economy/723938"|title=Russian ruble announced Crimea's official currency|agency=]|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> and announced that Crimea would switch to ] (]) on 30 March.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/17/time/|script-title=ru:Названа дата перехода Крыма на московское время|website = ]|date = 17 March 2014|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| Putin officially recognised the Republic of Crimea by ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6884|agency=Kremlin|title=Executive Order on recognising Republic of Crimea|date=17 March 2014|accessdate=17 March 2014}}</ref> and approved the admission of Crimea and Sevastopol as ].<ref>{{Wayback |df=yes|date=20140318095051 |url=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20140318095051/http://pravo.gov.ru:8080/page.aspx?92062 |title=Распоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 17.03.2014 № 63-рп "О подписании Договора между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Крым о принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов"}} at ] {{ru icon}}</ref> | |||
| === Accession treaty and immediate aftermath === | |||
| ] | |||
| {{Main|Republic of Crimea|Crimean Federal District|Political status of Crimea}} | |||
| The Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia was signed between representatives of the Republic of Crimea (including Sevastopol, with which the rest of Crimea briefly unified) and the Russian Federation on 18 March 2014 to lay out terms for the immediate admission of the ] and ] as ] and part of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/news/20605 |title=Договор между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Крым о принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов |publisher=Kremlin.ru |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>, ], 18 March 2014</ref> It was ratified by the ] by 21 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rt.com/news/russia-parliament-crimea-ratification-293/|publisher=RT|title=Crimea, Sevastopol officially join Russia as Putin signs final decree|date=22 March 2014|accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| During ] on 18 March, some Ukrainian sources said that armed gunmen that were reported to be Russian special forces allegedly stormed the base. This was contested by Russian authorities, who subsequently arrested an alleged Ukrainian sniper in connection with the killings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26637296 |title=Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'|publisher=BBC|accessdate=18 March 2014| quote="Crimean police later said both Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces had been fired on from a single location (...) None of the accounts can be independently confirmed."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/news/2014_03_19/Sniper-that-killed-two-seized-in-Crimea-6475/ |title=Sniper that killed two seized in Crimea – News – World – The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video |publisher=The Voice of Russia |date=27 July 2013 |accessdate=2 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| At this stage, none of the accounts of this event could be verified independently.<ref>"None of the accounts can be independently confirmed.",, ], 19 March 2014</ref> The Ukrainian and the Crimean authorities provided conflicting reports of the event.<ref name=autogenerated3>"None of the accounts can be independently confirmed." , ], 19 March 2014</ref> Furthermore, witnesses of the event said that there was no immediate evidence that any Russian soldiers were involved in the incident.<ref name="yahoo1">"There was no immediate evidence that Russian soldiers were involved in Tuesday's incident, witnesses said.", ], 18 March 2014</ref> | |||
| The two casualties had a joint funeral attended by both the Crimean and Ukrainian authorities, and both soldiers were mourned together.<ref>"Joint Funeral" , '']'', 22 March 2014</ref> The incident is now under investigation by both the Crimean authorities and the Ukrainian military.<ref>"Joint Funeral2" , '']'', 22 March 2014</ref><ref>"Joint Funeral3" , ], 22 March 2014</ref> | |||
| On 19 March Putin submitted to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, a treaty of Crimea's reunification with Russia and a constitutional amendment on setting up two new constituent territories of the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/724381 |title=Putin submits Treaty on Crimea's accession, new constitutional amendment to State Duma |agency=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia |accessdate=19 March 2014}}</ref> Russian Constitutional Court found that treaty is in compliance with Constitution of Russia. The court sat in an emergency session following a formal request by President Vladimir Putin to assess the constitutionality of the treaty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/724320 |title=Treaty on Crimea's accession to Russia corresponds to Russian Constitution |agency=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia |accessdate=19 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://sputniknews.com/russia/20140319/188570695.html |title=Russian Constitutional Court Backs Crimea Reunification, RIA NOVOSTI |agency=RIA Novosti |accessdate=19 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| After the Russian Constitutional Court upheld the constitutionality of the treaty, the State Duma ratified it on 20 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/724601|title=State Duma ratifies treaty on admission of Crimea into Russia|publisher=]|date=20 March 2014 |accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rg.ru/2014/03/20/zakon-krim.html|title=Госдума приняла закон о присоединении Крыма|publisher=]|date=20 March 2014 |accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> The Duma also approved the draft federal constitutional law admitting Crimea and Sevastopol and establishing them as federal subjects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vote.duma.gov.ru/vote/85091 |title=Справка о голосовании по вопросу:О проекте федерального конституционного закона № 475944-6 "О принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов - Республики Крым и города федерального значения Севастополя" (первое чтение) |publisher=Vote.duma.gov.ru |accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vote.duma.gov.ru/vote/85092 |title=Справка о голосовании по вопросу: О проекте федерального конституционного закона № 475944-6 "О принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов - Республики Крым и города федерального значения Севастополя" (в целом) |publisher=Vote.duma.gov.ru |date=20 March 2014 |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> ]'s ] was the only State Duma member to vote against the measures. A day later, the treaty itself and the required amendment to article 65 of the Russian Constitution (which lists the ]) were ratified by the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/en/russia/724749|title=Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea's entry to Russia|publisher=]|date=21 March 2014 |accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref> and almost immediately signed into law by Putin.<ref> ] {{ru icon}}</ref> Crimea's admission to the Russian Federation was considered retroactive to 18 March, when Putin and Crimean leaders signed the draft treaty.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://base.garant.ru/70618342/|title = Федеральный конституционный закон от 21 марта 2014 г. N 6-ФКЗ "О принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов - Республики Крым и города федерального значения Севастополя"|quote = Article 1.<...>3. Republic of Crimea shall be considered admitted to the Russian Federation since date of signing of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on the Accession of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the Formation of New Federal Constituent Entities within the Russian Federation|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| On 24 March, the Ukrainian government ordered the full withdrawal of all of its armed forces from Crimea.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/| date= 24 March 2014| accessdate = 24 March 2014| title = Ukraine orders Crimea troop withdrawal as Russia seizes naval base| publisher =CNN}}</ref> In addition, the Ministry of Defence announced that approximately 50% of the Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea had defected to the Russian military.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html|archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20140326090516/http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html|archivedate=2014-03-26 |title=Ukranian News – Defense Ministry: 50% Of Ukrainian Troops In Crimea Defect To Russia |publisher=Un.ua |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathan Marcus |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26713727 |title=BBC News – Ukrainian forces withdraw from Crimea |publisher=Bbc.com |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html|archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20140326090516/http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html|archivedate=2014-03-26|archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20140325031907/http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html|archivedate=25 March 2014 |title=Ukrainian News - Defense Ministry: 50% Of Ukrainian Troops In Crimea Defect To Russia |publisher=Un.ua |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathan Marcus |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26713727 |title=Ukrainian forces withdraw from Crimea |publisher=BBC |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 27 March, the ] adopted a ] ], which declared the Crimean referendum and subsequent status change invalid, by a vote of 100 to 11, with 58 abstentions and 24 absent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=Ukraine&Cr1= |title=United Nations News Centre - Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Charbonneau |first=Louis |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327 |title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid |agency=Reuters |accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Crimea and Sevastopol switched to ] at the end of March.<ref name="Crimean time change">{{cite news|title=В 22.00 в Крыму и в Севастополе стрелки часов переведут на два часа вперёд – на московское время|url=http://www.1tv.ru/news/social/255292|accessdate=29 March 2014|date=29 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="Time switch">{{cite news|title=Crimea to set clocks to Russia time|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/crimea-to-set-clocks-to-russia-time-114033000014_1.html}}</ref> | |||
| On 2 April, Russia formally ] the ] and ].<ref> ] {{ru icon}}</ref> Putin cited "the accession of the ] and Sevastopol into Russia" and resulting "practical end of ] relationships" as his reason for the denunciation.<ref>See {{ru icon}}</ref> On the same day, he signed a decree formally rehabilitating the ], who were ] in 1944, and the Armenian, German, Greek, and Bulgarian minority communities in the region that ] also ordered removed in the 1940s. | |||
| On 11 April, the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea and City Charter of Sevastopol were adopted,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2451537|script-title=ru:Крым и Севастополь ожидают представления свыше|date = 12 March 2014|publisher = ]|language = Russian|last = Nikiforov|first = Vadim|accessdate = 23 April 2014}}</ref> and on same day, the new federal subjects were enumerated in a newly published revision of the Russian Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.mk.ru/politics/russia/article/2014/04/11/1012747-kryim-propisalsya-v-konstitutsii-rossii.html|script-title=ru:Крым прописался в конституции России|date = 11 April 2014|website = mk.ru|last = Nezamyatnyj|first = Ivan|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| {{multiple image | |||
| | direction = vertical | |||
| | image1 = Federal Law On Ratifying the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on Admitting to the Russian Federation.pdf | |||
| | caption1 = Federal Law on Ratifying the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea and Establishing within the Russian Federation New Constituent Entities. | |||
| | image2 = Federal Constitutional Law On Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea.pdf | |||
| | caption2 = Federal Constitutional Law on Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea and Establishing within the Russian Federation the New Constituent Entities of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Federal Importance Sevastopol. | |||
| }} | |||
| ==Transition and aftermath== | |||
| The number of tourists visiting Crimea in the 2014 season is expected to be lower than in the previous years due to worries about the political situation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/26207.5/3092655/|title=Российские туристы поедут в Крым, если ...смогут туда добраться|newspaper=]|date=17 July 2013}}</ref> The Crimean government members hope that Russian tourists will flow in.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ria56.ru/posts/45547575473754735.htm|title=Крым готовится к референдуму и ожидает Русских сезонов|publisher=РИА Оренбуржье|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> The Russian government is planning to promote Crimea as a resort and provide subsidised holidays to the peninsula for children and state workers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vz.ru/society/2014/3/17/677499.html|title=Снова в "Артек"|publisher=Vzglyad|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The ] news agency Novinite claims that according to the German newspaper '']'', the annexation of Crimea is economically disadvantageous for the Russian Federation. Russia will have to spend billions of euros a year to pay salaries and pensions. Moreover, Russia will have to undertake costly projects to connect Crimea to the Russian water supply and power system because Crimea has no land connection to Russia and at present gets water, gas and electricity from mainland Ukraine. This will require building ] and a pipeline across the ]. Also, Novinite claims that a Ukrainian expert told ''Die Welt'' that Crimea "will not be able to attract tourists".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/159004/Die+Welt%3A+Crimea's+Accession+Will+Cost+Russia+Billions|title=Die Welt: Crimea's Accession Will Cost Russia Billions|publisher=Novinite|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The first Deputy to ] of Russian Federation Tatyana Nesterenko said in her interview to '']'' that decision to annexe Crimea was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin exclusively without consulting Russia's Finance Ministry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unian.info/politics/1052109-decision-to-annex-crimea-taken-by-putin-personally.html |title=Decision to annex Crimea 'taken by Putin personally' |publisher=]|date=3 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| The Russian ] '']'' expresses an opinion that Russia will not acquire anything economically from "accessing" Crimea, which is not very developed industrially, having just a few big factories, and whose yearly gross product is only $4 billion. The newspaper also says that everything from Russia will have to be delivered by sea, higher costs of transportation will result in higher prices for everything, and to avoid a decline in living standards Russia will have to subsidise Crimean people for a few months. In total, Kommersant estimates the costs of integrating Crimea into Russia in $30 billion over the next decade, i.e. $3 billion per year.<ref name="kommersant20140207">{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2425287|title=Расходный полуостров|newspaper=]|date=7 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On the other hand western oil experts estimate that Russia's seizing of Crimea, and the associated control of an area of Black Sea more than three times its land area gives it access to oil and gas reserves potentially worth trillions of dollars. It also deprives Ukraine of its chances of energy independence. Most immediately however, analysts say, Moscow's acquisition may alter the route along which the ] pipeline would be built, saving Russia money, time and engineering challenges. It would also allow Russia to avoid building in Turkish territorial waters, which was necessary in the original route to avoid Ukrainian territory.<ref name="In taking Crimea, Putin gains a sea of fuel reserves">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/In-taking-Crimea-Putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves/articleshow/35312595.cms?|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519140005/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/In-taking-Crimea-Putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves/articleshow/35312595.cms?|archivedate=19 May 2014|title=In taking Crimea, Putin gains a sea of fuel reserves|work=The Times of India|accessdate=18 May 2014}}</ref><ref>. ''CounterPunch''. 23–25 May 2014.</ref> | |||
| Russian/] businessman ] announced he is ready to invest 12 billion rubles into the construction of a modern sea resort in Crimea, which is expected to create about 1,300 jobs. ], the ], said that other Chechen businessmen are planning to invest into Crimea as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top.rbc.ru/economics/17/03/2014/911475.shtml |title=Оздоровлением курортов Крыма займется Руслан Байсаров |publisher=Top.rbc.ru |accessdate=21 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The ] (Roskomnadzor) warned about a transition period as Russian operators have to change the numbering capacity and subscribers. ] will be replaced from the ] to ]. Codes in Crimea start with ], but in the area of ] the 6 is given to Kazakhstan which shares former Soviet Union +7 with Russia, so city codes have to change. The regulator assigned 869 ] to Sevastopol and the rest of the peninsula received a 365 code.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.1prime.biz/news/telecommunications/_Ctrl_Telegraph_to_set_Russian_tariffs_on_telegrams_in_Crimea_Apr_3/0/%7B49A072BC-07C5-44F4-8296-74340FE93120%7D.uif| title = | |||
| Central Telegraph to set Russian tariffs on telegrams in Crimea Apr 3| work =Prime |date=26 March 2014 | accessdate = 30 March 2014}}</ref> At the time of the unification with Russia, telephone operators and Internet service providers in Crimea and Sevastopol are connected to the outside world through the territory of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/81207| title =Крымчанам придется поменять номера телефонов и SIM-карты| publisher =comnews.ru |date=19 March 2014 | accessdate = 19 March 2014}}</ref> ] of Russia, ] announced on his ] account that ] in Crimea will now have six-figures: to the existing five-digit number the number two will be added at the beginning. For example, the Simferopol postal code 95000 will become 295000.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/81297| title = | |||
| "Почта России" переводит почтовое сообщение с Крымом на российские тарифы| publisher =comnews.ru |date=25 March 2014 | accessdate = 25 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Regarding Crimea's borders, the head of Russian Federal Agency for the Development of the State Border Facilities (Rosgranitsa) Konstantin Busygin, who was speaking at a meeting led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister ] in ], the capital of Crimea said the ] in the north of Crimea which, according to his claims, now forms part of the ], will be fully equipped with necessary facilities.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://tass.ru/en/russia/729980| title =Russian state border in north Crimea to be fully equipped in early May| work =]|date=29 April 2014 | accessdate = 30 April 2014}}</ref> In the area that now forms the border between Crimea and Ukraine mining the salt lake inlets from the sea that constitute the natural borders, and in the spit of land left over stretches of no-man's-land with wire on either side was created.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2014/05/30/sneaking-into-crimea-or-maybe-not/| title =Sneaking into Crimea - Or Maybe Not| work =]|date=30 May 2014 | accessdate = 31 May 2014}}</ref> On early June that year ] ] signed a ] №961<ref>О пунктах пропуска через государственную границу России в Республике Крым и городе Севастополе</ref> dated 5 June 2014 establishing air, sea, road and railway checkpoints. The adopted decisions create a legal basis for the functioning of a checkpoint system at the ] in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://government.ru/en/docs/12922/| title =Government Order on checkpoints at the Russian border in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol| work =Government of Russia official website|date=7 June 2014 | accessdate = 7 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| In the year following the annexation, armed men seized various Crimean businesses, including banks, hotels, shipyards, farms, gas stations, a bakery, a dairy, and Yalta Film Studio.<ref name=AP141202>{{cite news |url= http://bigstory.ap.org/article/166097f662ec4e6e899b14c12e9a0c58/change-leadership-crimea-means-property-grab |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20141203004052/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/166097f662ec4e6e899b14c12e9a0c58/change-leadership-crimea-means-property-grab |archivedate= 3 December 2014 |title= Change of leadership in Crimea means property grab |first= Laura |last= Mills |first2= John-Thor |last2= Dahlburg |work= Associated Press |date= 2 December 2014 }}</ref><ref name=NYT150110>{{cite news |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/world/seizing-assets-in-crimea-from-shipyard-to-film-studio.html |title= Seizing Assets in Crimea, From Shipyard to Film Studio |first= Neil |last= MacFarquhar |work= The New York Times |date= 10 January 2015 }}</ref><ref name=AFP150227>{{cite news |url= https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/under-russia-isolated-crimea-twilight-060215014.html |title=Under Russia, isolated Crimea is twilight zone for business |first= Maria |last= Antonova |agency= ] |publisher= Yahoo News |date= 27 February 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150301041453/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/under-russia-isolated-crimea-twilight-060215014.html |archivedate= 1 March 2015 |deadurl= no }}</ref> | |||
| === Human rights situation === | |||
| On 9 May 2014 the new "anti-extremist" amendment to the ], passed in December 2013, came into force. Article 280.1 designated incitement of violation of territorial integrity of the Russian Federation<ref name="UKRF280-1"> {{ru icon}}</ref> (incl. calls for secession of Crimea from Russia<ref>{{cite web|author=Автор статьи: Мария Макутина |url=http://rbcdaily.ru/politics/562949990932895 |title=За призывы вернуть Крым Украине можно будет лишиться свободы сроком до пяти лет - РБК daily |publisher=Rbcdaily.ru |accessdate=1 April 2014}}</ref>) as a criminal offence in Russia, punishable by a fine of 300 thousand roubles or imprisonment up to 3 years. If such statements are made in public media or the internet, the punishment could be obligatory works up to 480 hours or imprisonment up to five years.<ref name="UKRF280-1" /> | |||
| <section begin=HumanRights />Following the annexation of Crimea, according to report released on the Russian government run President of Russia's Council on Civil Society and Human Rights website, Tatars who were opposed to Russian rule have been persecuted, Russian law restricting freedom of speech has been imposed, and the new pro-Russian authorities "liquidated" the Kiev Patriarchate Orthodox church on the peninsula.<ref name="Washington Post"/> | |||
| After the annexation, on 16 May the new Russian authorities of Crimea issued a ban on the annual commemorations of the anniversary of the ] by Stalin in 1944, citing "possibility of provocation by extremists" as a reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2014/05/17_a_6037401.shtml|script-title=ru:Крымским татарам запретили митинговать|trans-title=Crimean Tatars have been banned from holding protest rallies|language=ru|publisher=gazeta.ru|date=17 May 2014|accessdate=24 March 2014}}</ref> Previously, when Crimea was controlled by Ukraine, these commemorations had taken place every year.<!-- without incident or controversy. - needs a source that it was "without incident", not in reuters link given-->The pro-Russian Crimean authorities also banned ], a human rights activist, Soviet dissent, member of the Ukrainian parliament, and former Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars from entering Crimea.<ref name="ft">{{cite news | url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/93ded53c-de99-11e3-b46b-00144feabdc0.html | title=Crimean Tatars defy ban on rallies to commemorate deportation | work=Financial Tims | date=18 May 2014 | accessdate=19 May 2014 | author=Hille, Katherine}}</ref> Additionally, Mejlis reported, that officers of Russia's ] (FSB) raided Tatar homes in the same week, on the pretense of "suspicion of terrorist activity".<ref name="reut">{{cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/18/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-tatars-idUSBREA4H06S20140518 | title=Crimean Tatars commemorate Soviet deportation despite ban | date=18 May 2014 | agency=Reuters | accessdate=19 May 2014 | author=Winning, Alexander}}</ref> The Tatar community eventually did hold commemorative rallies in defiance of the ban.<ref name="ft"/><ref name="reut"/> In response Russian authorities flew helicopters over the rallies in an attempt to disrupt them.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27461159 | title=Crimea helicopters try to disrupt Tatar rallies |publisher=BBC News | date=18 May 2014 | accessdate=19 May 2014}}</ref><section end=HumanRights /> | |||
| ===Crimean public opinion=== | |||
| A joint survey by American government agency ] and polling firm ] was taken during April 2014.<ref name="FFS6464"/> It polled 500 residents of Crimea. The survey found that 82.8% of those polled believed that the results of the Crimean status referendum reflected the views of most Crimeans, whereas 6.7% said that it did not. 73.9% of those polled said that they thought that the annexation would have a positive impact on their lives, whereas 5.5% said that it would not. 13.6% said that they did not know.<ref name="FFS6464">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2014/06/Ukraine-slide-deck.pdf|title=News-gathering and policy perceptions in Ukraine|publisher=Broadcasting Board of Governors|format=PDF|date=3 June 2014|accessdate=23 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| A comprehensive poll released on 8 May 2014 by the ] surveyed Crimean opinions on the annexation.<ref name="PewReport">{{cite press release|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/05/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Ukraine-Russia-Report-FINAL-May-8-2014.pdf|title=Despite Concerns about Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country|format=PDF|publisher=Pew Research Centre|date=8 May 2014|accessdate=8 May 2014}}</ref> Despite international criticism of 16 March ], 91% of those Crimeans polled thought that the vote was free and fair, and 88% said that the Ukrainian government should recognise the results.<ref name="PewReport" /> | |||
| == Ukrainian response == | |||
| {{Seealso|Do not buy Russian goods!}} | |||
| Immediately after the treaty of accession was signed in March, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Provisional Principal of Russia in Ukraine to present '']'' of protest against Russia's recognition of the Republic of Crimea and its subsequent annexation.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.unn.com.ua/ru/news/1318642-mzs-viklikalo-timchasovogo-povirenogo-u-spravakh-rf-v-ukrayini-dlya-vruchennya-noti-protestu|script-title=ru:МИД вызвал Временного поверенного в делах РФ в Украине для вручения ноты-протеста|date = 18 March 2014|website = unn.com.ua|language = Russian}}</ref> Two days later, the ] condemned the treaty<ref>{{cite web|url = http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1139-18|script-title=uk:Декларація "Про боротьбу за звільнення України"|website = ]|language = Ukrainian}}</ref> and called Russia's actions "a gross violation of ]". The Rada called on the international community to avoid recognition of the "so-called Republic of Crimea" or the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia as new federal subjects. | |||
| On 15 April 2014, the Verkhovna Rada declared the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to be under "provisional ]" by the Russian military<ref>{{cite web|url = http://iportal.rada.gov.ua/news/Novyny/Povidomlennya/91559.html|script-title=uk:Верховна Рада України ухвалила Закон "Про забезпечення прав і свобод громадян та правовий режим на тимчасово окупованій території України"|date = 15 April 2014|publisher = ]|language = Ukrainian}}</ref> and imposed ] on Ukrainians visiting Crimea.<ref name="apr15">{{cite web|title=Ukraine Parliament declares Crimea temporarily occupied territory|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ukraine-parliament-declares-crimea-temporarily-occupied-territory/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref> The territories were also deemed "inalienable parts of Ukraine" subject to Ukrainian law. Among other things, the special law approved by the Rada restricted foreign citizens' movements to and from the Crimean Peninsula and forbade certain types of entrepreneurship.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://rada.gov.ua/ru/news/Novosty/Soobshchenyya/91573.html|script-title=ru:Верховная Рада Украины приняла Закон "Об обеспечении прав и свобод граждан и правовом режиме на временно оккупированной территории Украины"|date = 15 April 2014|publisher = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> The law also forbade activity of government bodies formed in violation of Ukrainian law and designated their acts as ]. The voting rights of Crimea in national Ukrainian elections were also suspended.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/4/15/682175.html|script-title=ru:Рада приняла закон о защите прав граждан "оккупированного Крыма"|date = 15 April 2014|website = ]|language = Russian}}</ref> The law had little to no actual effect in Crimea itself due to the mutual non-recognition between Kiev and Simferopol. | |||
| Ukrainian authorities greatly reduced the volume of ] via the North Crimean Canal, threatening the viability of the peninsula's agricultural crops, which are heavily dependent on irrigation.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |date = 2014-04-25 |accessdate= 2014-04-26 |title = Russia fears Crimea water shortage as supply drops |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27155885 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> | |||
| The Ukrainian National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting instructed all cable operators on March 11 to stop transmitting a number of Russian channels, including the international versions of the main state-controlled stations ], ] and NTV, as well as news channel ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ennis |first=Stephen |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26546083 |title=BBC News – Ukraine hits back at Russian TV onslaught |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 12, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> | |||
| In March 2014, activists began organising ]s in supermarkets to urge customers ] and to boycott Russian ], banks, and concerts. In April 2014, some ]s in Kiev, Lviv, and Odesa began ].<ref> {{Ref-ru|}}. ЦензорНЕТ. 11.04.2014</ref> | |||
| In December 2014, Ukraine halted all train and bus services to Crimea.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |date = 8 January 2015 |title = Ukraine conflict: Crimea hit by shortages |url = http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30713665 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> | |||
| ==Russian response== | |||
| {{see also|2014 anti-war protests in Russia}} | |||
| ] to Ukrainian 55th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment in ] to lay down arms under control of ] for the period of ]]] | |||
| In a poll published on 24 February by the state-owned ], only 15% of those Russians polled said 'yes' to the question: "Should Russia react to the overthrow of the legally elected authorities in Ukraine?"<ref>{{cite news | url=http://time.com/11952/putin-ukraine-crimea-russia/ | title=4 Reasons Putin Is Already Losing in Ukraine | work=] | date=3 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The ] Committee on ] Affairs, headed by ], visited Simferopol on 25 February 2014 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 name="Rothkopf">{{cite web|last=Rothkopf |first=David |url=http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/02/25/all-not-quiet-on-ukraines-eastern-front/ |title=All (Not) Quiet on Ukraine's Eastern Front |work=Foreign policy |date=25 February 2014}}</ref> They also stated that in the event of a ] for Crimea region joining Russian Federation they would consider its results "very fast".<ref name="Infowars.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.infowars.com/russia-may-be-preparing-to-annex-crimea/ |title=Russia May Be Preparing to Annex Crimea Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind! |publisher=Infowars.com |date=24 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="gordonua.com">{{cite news|title=Российские паспорта и присоединение к РФ: Депутаты Госдумы прибыли в Крым (Rossiyskiye pasporta i prisoyedineniye k RF: Deputaty Gosdumy pribyli v Krym) |trans_title=Russian passports and joining Russia: State Duma deputies arrived in Crimea |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 name="aif.ru">{{cite news|title=В Госдуме опровергли данные о выдаче паспортов РФ жителям Крыма (V Gosdume oprovergli dannyye o vydache pasportov RF zhitelyam Kryma) |trans_title=The State Duma has denied information about issuing passports to residents of Crimea RF |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>{{cite web|language=Ukrainian |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016276/ |title=Росія обіцяє втрутитися, якщо ''росіянам в Україні буде загроза'' (Rosiya obitsyaye vtrutytysya, yakshcho ''rosiyanam v Ukrayini bude zahroza'') |trans_title=Russia promises to intervene if the Russians in Ukraine ''threatened'' |work=Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) |place=UA |date=25 February 2014}}</ref> On 25 February, in a meeting with Crimean politicians he stated that Viktor Yanukovych was still the legitimate president of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016292/ |title=У Росії Януковича все ще вважають президентом – Слуцький (U Rosiyi Yanukovycha vse shche vvazhayut' prezydentom – Sluts'kyy) |trans_title=In Russia Yanukovych's still the president – Slutsky |work=Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) |place=UA |date=25 February 2014}}</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 name="Интерфакс Interfax">{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/world/361055 |title=Госдума России обсуждает меры по защите крымчан (Gosduma Rossii obsuzhdayet mery po zashchite krymchan) |trans_title=Russian State Duma discusses measures to protect the Crimean |publisher=Интерфакс (Interfax) |place=RU}}</ref> | |||
| On 26 February, Russian President ] ordered the ] to be "put on alert in the ] as well as units stationed with the 2nd Army ] 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 ] ] said it was in separate consideration from the unrest in Ukraine.<ref name="Alpert">{{cite web|last=Alpert |first=Lukas I. |url=http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304709904579406310892324006 |title=Russia Orders Military Exercises Amid Ukraine Tension |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> | |||
| On 27 February 2014, the Russian government dismissed accusations about violation by the Russian side of the basic agreements in regards of the ]: "All movements of armored vehicles are undertaken in full compliance with the basic agreements and did not require any approvals".<ref name="mid.ru">{{cite press release|url=http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/B975BAFF6BC9B43F44257C8C004A3AFD |type=comment |publisher=The Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia |title=The media question about the movements of the Black Sea Fleet armored vehicles |date=27 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="RIA News">{{cite news |url=http://ria.ru/world/20140227/997402725.html |title=Russian Defense Ministry: The Black Sea Fleet is not a threat to the situation in Ukraine |publisher=RIA News |date=27 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016538/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the movement of armored vehicles in Crimea |newspaper=] |date=27 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 27 February, the Russian governing agencies presented the new law project on granting citizenship.<ref name="ria.ru">{{cite news|url=http://ria.ru/trend/_citizenship_Russia_12022014/ |title=Draft law of FMS and the Ministry of Economy of granting citizenship |publisher=RIA News |date=27 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the West and particularly ] to "abandon the provocative statements and respect the neutral status of Ukraine".<ref name="mid_accusations">{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016548/ |title=MID of Russia made another statement on Ukraine: militants, NATO, provocations |newspaper=] |date=27 February 2014}}</ref> In its statement the ministry claims that agreement on settlement of the crisis which was signed on 21 February and was witnessed by foreign ministries from Germany, ] and France has to this date, not been implemented<ref name="mid_accusations" /> (] from Russia had not signed it<ref name="CTV News">{{cite news |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal-1.1697154 |title=Tensions high at Kiev protest camp despite ground-breaking deal|publisher=]|date=21 February 2014 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal-1.1697154 |archivedate=22 February 2014}}</ref>). | |||
| On 28 February, according to ], the ] discontinued its further talks with Ukraine in regards to the ] project.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/rosiya_pripinila_peregovori_z_ukraiinoyu_za_proektom_kerchenskogo_mostu_1912965 |title=Russia has suspended negotiations with Ukraine on the project of Kerch bridge |agency=] |date=28 February 2014}}</ref> However, on 3 March ], the ], signed a ] creating a subsidiary of Russian Highways (]) to build a bridge at an unspecified location along the Kerch strait.<ref name="TV Rain">{{cite news |place=Russia |newspaper=]|publisher=TV Rain |url=http://tvrain.ru/articles/medvedev_rasporjadilsja_sozdat_kompaniju_dlja_stroitelstva_mosta_cherez_kerchenskij_proliv-364255/ |script-title=ru:Медведев распорядился создать компанию для строительства моста через керченский пролив |date=3 March 2014|language=Russian }}</ref><ref>''The Moscow Times''. 4 March 2014</ref> | |||
| ], which took place in ] a day before the Crimean referendum.]] | |||
| On Russian social networks there is a movement to gather volunteers who served in the Russian army to go to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016603/ |title=In Russia there are gathering "tourists" to Ukraine who served in the military |newspaper=] |date=28 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 28 February President Putin stated it was of "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence and the necessity of a rapid normalisation of the situation in Ukraine" in telephone calls with key EU leaders.<ref name="CrimeaRussiaOccupation">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis live: Russia admits its troops are moving in Crimea|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-President-Barack-Obama-warns-of-costs-for-any-violation-of-Ukraine.html|accessdate=28 February 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Already on 19 February the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the Euromaidan revolution as the "]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/19/brown/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry called the Ukrainian revolution "brown" |newspaper=Lenta |place=RU |date=19 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/02/19/7014748/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry: In Ukraine the "brown" revolution, we will apply all the influence |newspaper=] |place=UA |date=19 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| The ] approved that Russia may introduce a limited contingent of Russian troops in Crimea{{Clarify|date=March 2014}}<!-- isn't it in WHOLE Ukraine? See Presidential request to FC here: http://kremlin.ru/news/20353 --> for the security of the Black Sea Fleet and the Russians.<ref name="Federation 2014">. ]. 1 March 2014.</ref> | |||
| In Moscow, on 2 March, an estimated 27,000 rallied in support of the Russian government's decision to intervene in Ukraine.<ref name="csmmoscow">{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0302/Vladimir-Putin-sees-small-protests-mass-support-for-troops-in-Ukraine-video |title=Vladimir Putin sees small protests, mass support for troops in Ukraine (+video)|work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The rallies received considerable attention on Russian state TV and were officially sanctioned by the government.<ref name=csmmoscow /> | |||
| Meanwhile, on 1 March, five people who were picketing next to the Federation Council building against the invasion of Ukraine were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.unian.ua/politics/891669-u-rosiji-zatrimali-aktivistiv-yaki-protestuvali-proti-viyni-z-ukrajinoyu.html |title=In Russia were detained activists who protested against the war with Ukraine |agency=] |date=1 March 2014}}</ref> The next day about 200 people protested at the building of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow against Russian military involvement.<ref name="Utro">{{cite web |url=http://www.utro.ru/articles/2014/03/02/1179378.shtml|title=На антивоенных акциях в Москве задержаны 300 человек (Na antivoyennykh aktsiyakh v Moskve zaderzhany 300 chelovek) |trans_title=At the anti-war actions in Moscow detained 300 people |publisher=Utro |place=RU |language=Russian|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> About 500 people also gathered to protest on the ] in Moscow and the same number of people on the ] in Saint Petersburg.<ref name="investigator.org.ua">{{cite web |url=http://investigator.org.ua/news/120579/ |title=В Москве и Перебурге проходят митинги против российской оккупации Крыма. Уже есть задержанные (V Moskve i Peterburge prokhodyat mitingi protiv rossiyskoy okkupatsii Kryma. Uzhe yest' zaderzhannyye) |trans_title=In Moscow and St. Petersburg rallies against the Russian occupation of the Crimea. Already have detained |language=Russian |publisher=Центр журналистских расследований (Tsentr zhurnalistskikh rassledovaniy) |accessdate=2 March 2014 }}</ref> On 2 March, about eleven protesters demonstrated in ] against Russian involvement, with some wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.<ref name="kp.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1674924/|title=Жители Екатеринбурга провели пикеты против ввода российских войск в Крым (Zhiteli Yekaterinburga proveli pikety protiv vvoda rossiyskikh voysk v Krym) |trans_title=Inhabitants of Ekaterinburg picketed against Russian troops in the Crimea |work=] |place=RU |language=Russian |accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> Protests were also held in ] on the same day.<ref name="ura.ru">{{cite web |url=http://ura.ru/news/1052176002|title="Сколько детей ты готов похоронить, чтобы Крым стал частью России?" Первые антивоенные пикеты прошли на Урале ("Skol'ko detey ty gotov pokhoronit', chtoby Krym stal chast'yu Rossii?" Pervyye antivoyennyye pikety proshli na Urale) |trans_title="How many children are you willing to bury to Crimea became part of Russia?" First anti-war pickets were held in the Urals |publisher=Ura |place=RU |language=Russian |accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> The opposition to the military intervention was also expressed by rock musician ], who wrote in particular: "You want war with Ukraine? It will not be the way ]: the folks on the Maidan have been hardened and know what they are fighting for – for their country, their independence. We have to live with them. Still neighborly. And preferably in friendship. But it's up to them how they want to live".<ref name="novayagazeta.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.novayagazeta.ru/society/62540.html |title=Не стреляй! Шевчук, Гребенщиков, Макаревич. Антивоенная риторика (Ne strelyay! Shevchuk, Grebenshchikov, Makarevich. Antivoyennaya ritorika) |trans_title=Do not shoot! Shevchuk, Grebenshikov Makarevich. antiwar rhetoric |work=] |language=Russian |accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref> The Professor of the Department of Philosophy at the ] ] was fired for his article in '']'', criticising Russian military intervention.<ref name="Bershidsky">{{Cite news |last = Bershidsky |first = Leonid |date = 25 March 2014 |title = Comparing Putin to Hitler Will Get You Fired |url = http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-25/comparing-putin-to-hitler-will-get-you-fired |publisher = ] |accessdate = 25 March 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| On 2 March, one Moscow resident protested against Russian intervention by holding "Stop the war" banner, but he was immediately harassed by passers-by and when the police was arresting him, a woman offered them fabricating a serious charge (beating up a child) against him; however, the proposal was rejected by the police.<ref name="opposed">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26531310 |title=Ukraine crisis: Russians opposed to Putin |publisher=BBC News Magazine |date=12 March 2014}}</ref> Andrei Zubov, a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who compared Russian actions in Crimea to the ] of Austria, was threatened. Akexander Chuyev, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Spravedlivaya Rossiya party, also objected to Russian intervention in Ukraine. ], popular Russian writer, predicted that Russia's moves would lead to political and economic isolation.<ref name="opposed"/> | |||
| ] (seated, middle) speaks to the press on 4 March 2014, denouncing ] as an "unconstitutional coup", and insisting that Moscow has a right to protect Russians in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-reserves-the-right-to-use-force-in-ukraine/2014/03/04/92d4ca70-a389-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html |title=Putin defends Ukraine stance, cites lawlessness |work=The Washington Post|date=4 March 2014}}</ref>]] | |||
| President Putin's approval rating among the Russian public has increased by nearly 10% since the crisis began, up to 71.6%, the highest in three years, according to a poll conducted by the ], released on 19 March.<ref name="approval">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/18/crimea-ukraine-putin-russia/6564263/|title=Putin's move on Crimea bolsters popularity back home|work=USA Today|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> Additionally, the same poll showed that more than 90% of Russians supported unification with the Crimean Republic.<ref name=approval/> | |||
| On 4 March, at press conference in ] President Putin expressed his view on the situation that if a revolution took place in Ukraine, it is a new country with which Russia did not conclude any treaties.<ref name="putin_renounced">{{cite news |url=http://dt.ua/POLITICS/putin-podilyaye-dumku-scho-yakscho-v-ukrayini-revolyuciya-to-na-yiyi-teritoriyi-vzhe-nova-derzhava-138899_.html |title=Putin shares the view that if in Ukraine "revolution" – then on its territory is a new state |newspaper=] |date=4 March 2014}}</ref> He brought up an analogy with events of 1917 in Russia, when as a result of the revolution the ] fell apart and a new state was created.<ref name="putin_renounced"/> However, he stated Ukraine would still have to honour its debts. | |||
| ] | |||
| Russian politicians have speculated that there are already 143,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia.<ref name="refugees">{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com.au/world/2014/03/02/07/46/russia-claims-thousands-fleeing-ukraine |title=Russia claims thousands fleeing Ukraine |newspaper=Nine MSN |place=AU |date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The ] refuted those claims of refugees increase in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/mzs_ukraiini_sprostuvalo_zrostannya_kilkosti_bigentsiv_do_rosiii_1914722 |title=мзс україні спростувало зростання кількості бігентсив до росії (MZS Ukrayini sprostuvalo zrostannya kil'kosti bihent·syv do rosiyi) |trans_title=Ukraine Foreign Ministry refuted the growing number of refugees in Russia |agency=] |date=4 March 2014}}</ref> At a briefing on 4 March 2014, the director of department of information policy of the ] of ] ] claimed that Russia was misinforming its own citizens as well as the entire international community to justify its own actions in the Crimea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/mzs_putin_prodovgue__dezinformuvati_uves_svit_zaradi_vipravdannya_svoiih_diy_1914726 |place=UA |title=мзс путін продовґуе дезінформувати весь світ заради виправдання своїх дії (MZS Putin prodovgue dezinformuvaty ves' svit zarady vypravdannya svoyikh diyi) |trans_title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Putin continues to mislead the whole world for justification of own actions |agency=] |date=4 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 5 March, an anchor of the Russian-owned international news channel ], ], in an interview with ], said she "did not agree" with how her employer RT was covering the Ukrainian crisis, but claims RT still supports her despite her differences of opinion.<ref name="Piers">{{cite video|title=Abby Martin: Russia Today supports me|url=http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2014/03/05/pmt-intv-martin-russia-critique.cnn|publisher=CNN|date=5 March 2014}}</ref> Also on 5 March 2014, another RT America anchor, ], of the network's Washington, DC bureau, resigned on air, explaining that she could not be "part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin" and citing her Hungarian ancestry and the memory of the Soviet repression of the ] as a factor in her decision.<ref name="Kirchick">{{cite web|last = Kirchick|first = James|title = Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit|work = The Daily Beast|accessdate = 6 March 2014|date = 5 March 2014|url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/exclusive-rt-today-anchor-liz-wahl-explains-why-she-quit.html | |||
| }}</ref> | |||
| In early March, Igor Andreyev, a 75-year-old survivor of the ], attended an anti-war rally against the Russian intervention in Crimea and was holding a sign that read "Peace to the World". The riot police arrested him and a local pro-government lawyer then accused him of being a supporter of "fascism". The retiree, who lived on a 6,500-ruble monthly pension, was fined 10,000 rubles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leningrad-blockade-survivor-arrested-fined-for-anti-war-protest/495842.html |title=Leningrad Blockade Survivor Arrested, Fined For Anti-War Protest |author=Anna Dolgov |work=The Moscow Times |date=7 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Prominent dissident ] said that Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broader autonomy.<ref name="Interfax">{{cite news |url=http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=487296|title=Khodorkovsky: Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broad autonomous status|agency=Interfax|date=10 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ], a republic within Russia populated by ], has sought to alleviate concerns about treatment of Tatars by Russia, as Tatarstan is a gas-rich and economically successful republic in Russia.<ref name="aljazeera.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/crimea-crisis-tatarstan-factor-2014314143349496558.html |title=Crimea crisis: The Tatarstan factor – Opinion |publisher=Al Jazeera |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> On 5 March, ] ] signed an agreement on co-operation between Tatarstan and the Aksyonov government in Crimea that implied collaboration between ten government institutions as well as significant financial aid to Crimea from Tatarstan businesses.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> On 11 March, Minnikhanov was in Crimea on his second visit and attended as a guest present in the Crimean parliament chamber during the vote on the declaration of sovereignty pending the 16 March referendum.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> The Tatarstan's Mufti ] invited Crimean Tatars to study in madrasas in Kazan and declared support for their "brothers in faith and blood".<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> ], a former leader of the Crimean Tatar Majlis believes that forces that are suspected to be Russian forces should leave the Crimean peninsula,<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> and has asked the UN Security Council to send peacekeepers into the region.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rfe/Rl |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-crimean-tatar-un-peacekeepers/25317014.html |title=Crimean Tatar Leader Calls For UN Peacekeeping Troops |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=1 April 2014 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 13 March, Russian President ] made a comparison between Crimea and ] in a phone call with US President ].<ref>"" CNS News.16 March 2014.</ref> | |||
| On 15 March, thousands of protesters (estimates varying from 3,000 by official sources up to 50,000 claimed by opposition) in Moscow marched against Russian involvement in Ukraine, many waving Ukrainian flags.<ref>{{Dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> At the same time a pro government (and pro-]) rally, occurred across the street, counted thousands as well (officials claiming 27,000 with opposition claiming about 10,000). | |||
| In February 2015, the leading independent Russian newspaper '']'' reported<ref name="Novaya_predstavlyaetsya">{{cite news | url=http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/67389.html | title=Представляется правильным инициировать присоединение восточных областей Украины к России | date=25 February 2015 | agency=] | author=Lipsky, Andrey | issue=19}}</ref> that it obtained documents, allegedly written by oligarch Konstantin Malofayev and others, which provided the Russian government with a strategy in the event of Viktor Yanukovych's removal from power and the break-up of Ukraine, which were considered likely. The documents outline plans for annexation of Crimea and the eastern portions of the country, closely describing the events that actually followed after Yanukovych's fall. The documents also describe plans for a public relations campaign which would seek to justify Russian actions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schofield |first=Matthew |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/02/21/257386/russian-news-report-ukraine-invasion.html |title=BERLIN: Russian news report: Putin approved Ukraine invasion before Kiev government collapsed | Europe |publisher=McClatchy DC |date=2014-02-22 |accessdate=2015-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-rebels-agree-to-begin-withdrawing-weapons/2653786.html |title=Report to Allege Direct Kremlin Link to Ukraine Invasion |publisher=Voice of America |date=2014-02-15 |accessdate=2015-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/1866019/world-war-3-vladimir-putin-plotted-ukraine-invasion-early-as-february-2014-new-report-says/ |title=World War 3: Vladimir Putin Plotted Ukraine Invasion Early As February 2014, New Report Says |publisher=Inquisitr.com |accessdate=2015-02-24}}</ref> | |||
| ==International response== | |||
| {{Further|Political status of Crimea|International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis|United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262}} | |||
| {{main|International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis}} | |||
| [[File:Crimea reaction clean.svg|thumb|300px|right|International reaction to the 2014 Crimean crisis according to official governmental statements.{{efn|If an official position can be sorted in more than one category, the "strongest" position was marked (from the "call for a peaceful resolution" to "interpretation as a military intervention" consecutively). For the sources see the image description.}} | |||
| {{legend|#efef8f|''Statements only voicing concern or hope for peaceful resolution to the conflict''}} | |||
| {{legend|#57d2d2|''Support for Ukrainian territorial integrity''}} | |||
| {{legend|#289797|''Condemnation of Russian actions''}} | |||
| {{legend|#1b6565|''Condemnation of Russian actions as a military intervention or invasion''}} | |||
| {{legend|#d93cd9|''Support for Russian actions and/or condemnation of the Ukrainian interim government''}} | |||
| {{legend|#f08080|''Recognition of Russian interests''}} | |||
| {{legend|#497bd7|''Ukraine''}} | |||
| {{legend|#6a1f1f|''Russia''}} | |||
| {{legend|#CDCDCD|''No official statements / No data available''}}]] | |||
| ] | |||
| There has been a range of international reactions to the annexation. A U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution 100 in favour, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly that declared invalid Crimea's Moscow-backed referendum.<ref name="CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH">{{cite news|last=CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH|first=MIRJAM AND LOUIS|title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327|agency=Reuters|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Felton and Gumuchian">{{cite news|last=Felton and Gumuchian,|first=Marie-Louise and Alex|title=U.N. General Assembly resolution calls Crimean referendum invalid|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/|publisher=CNN|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="un.org">{{cite news|title=Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=|newspaper=UN News Center|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news|title=UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/27/un-general-assembly-votes-yes-on-ukraine-unity/|agency=Associated Press|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416|date=March 27, 2014|publisher=BBC}}</ref> In a move supported by the Lithuanian President,<ref name=CNBC>{{cite news|title=Russia sanctions 9 US officials in response to US sanctions on Russian officials|url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/101489046|publisher=CNBC|date=20 March 2014}}</ref> the United States government imposed sanctions against persons they deem to have violated or assisted in the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.<ref name="EO13660">{{cite press release | url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/06/executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-contributing-situation | title=Executive Order 13660 – Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine | publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary | date=March 6, 2014 | accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref> The ] suspended talks with Russia on economic and visa-related matters; and is considering more stringent sanctions against Russia in the near future, including asset freezes.<ref name="EUsanctions">{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-leaders-weighing-sanctions-russia-22795279 | archiveurl=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20140306170908/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-leaders-weighing-sanctions-russia-22795279 | archivedate=2014-03-06 | title=EU Slaps Initial Sanctions on Russia | agency=Associated Press | date=March 6, 2014 | publisher=ABC News | accessdate=March 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="mainichi.jp">{{cite news |url=http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140304p2g00m0in014000c.html|title=Sanctions threat grows as Ukraine tensions rise|place=Japan |work=Mainichi Shimbun|date=March 4, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> while Japan announced sanctions which include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/|title=Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=18 March 2014|accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> The ] decided on 11 March to enter into a full free-trade agreement with Ukraine this year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Baker |first=Luke |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-eu-ukraine-trade-idUSBREA2A10D20140311 |title=EU to offer 500 million euros of trade benefits to Ukraine |agency=Reuters |accessdate=11 March 2014}}</ref> On 12 March, the ] rejected the upcoming referendum on independence in Crimea, which they saw as manipulated and contrary to international and Ukrainian law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140312STO38705/html/Ukraine-MEPs-call-for-firm-action-on-Russia-to-prevent-further-escalation|title=Ukraine: MEPs call for firm action on Russia to prevent further escalation|work=European Parliament|date=12 March 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> The ] bloc of developed nations (the ] minus Russia) made a joint statement condemning Russia and announced that they will suspend preparations for the upcoming ] in June.<ref>{{cite news |work=Political ticker |publisher=CNN |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/02/lawmakers-call-for-suspension-of-russia-from-g8-swift-action-against-putin/ |title=Lawmakers call for suspension of Russia from G8, swift action against Putin |type=] log |date=2 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/john-kerry-russia-putin-crimea-ukraine |title=Russia G8 status at risk over 'incredible act of aggression' in Crimea, says Kerry |work=The Guardian |date=2 March 2014 |place=UK}}</ref> ] condemned Russia's military escalation in Crimea and stated that it was breach of international law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_107681.htm |title=North Atlantic Council statement on the situation in Ukraine |publisher=Nato.int |accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> while the ] expressed its full support for the territorial integrity and national unity of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4908&lang=2&cat=17 |title=PACE: News |publisher=Assembly.coe.int |date=22 November 2013 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> The ] has issued a joint statement urging Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and for Ukraine to take into account its minority groups to not further break fragile relations. It has urged for Russia to respect Ukrainian and international law and in line with the provisions of the ].<ref name=Visegrad>{{cite press release |title=Statement of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad countries on Ukraine |url=http://www.kormany.hu/en/prime-minister-s-office/news/statement-of-the-prime-ministers-of-the-visegrad-countries-on-ukraine |place=Hungary |publisher=Prime Minister's Office|title=Statement of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrád Countries on Ukraine}}{{Dead link|date=March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| China said "We respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine". A spokesman restated China's belief of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations and urged dialogue.<ref name=ibtbacchi1>{{cite news|last=FlorCruz |first=Jaime |title=Russia may find ally in China – albeit a passive one for now|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/asia/china-russia-ukraine-analysis/|accessdate=5 March 2014|publisher=CNN|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=ibtbacchi2>{{cite news|last=Economy|first=Elizabeth|title=China's Soft 'Nyet' To Russia's Ukraine Intervention|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabetheconomy/2014/03/05/chinas-soft-nyet-to-russias-ukraine-intervention/|accessdate=5 March 2014|newspaper=Forbes|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ] ] of ] stated that Russia has legitimate interests in Crimea and called for "sustained diplomatic efforts" and "constructive dialogue" to resolve the crisis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine: Shivshankar Menon, NSA|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-03-06/news/47971186_1_crimea-ukraine-black-sea-fleet|accessdate=7 March 2014|work=The Economic Times|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> However, the National Security Advisor is not a part of the ] of India and, as such, Menon's statement was not an official statement issued by the government of India.<ref>"However, when questioned, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon said..." ()</ref> However, India subsequently made it clear that it will not support any "unilateral measures" against Russian government. "India has never supported unilateral sanctions against any country. Therefore, we will also not support any unilateral measures by a country or a group of countries against Russia."<ref>{{cite news|title=India not to support western sanctions against Russia|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-not-to-support-western-sanctions-against-Russia/articleshow/32307749.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=19 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Both ] and ] openly support Russian military action. Syrian President ] said that he supports Putin's efforts to "restore security and stability in the friendly country of Ukraine", while Venezuelan President ] condemned Ukraine's "ultra-nationalist" coup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/06/bashar-al-assad-letter-of-support-to-putin/ |title=Syria's Assad expresses support to Putin on Ukraine |publisher=euronews |date=18 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="SFGATE">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Putin-on-Ukraine-Supported-by-5311093.php | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20140313004027/http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Putin-on-Ukraine-Supported-by-5311093.php | archivedate=2014-03-13 | title=Putin on Ukraine Supported by China-Syria-Venezuela Minority | work=Bloomberg News | date=12 March 2014 | accessdate=12 March 2014}}</ref> Sri Lanka described Yanukovych's removal as unconstitutional and considered Russia's concerns in Crimea as justified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sri-lanka-regrets-removal-of-ukrainian-president-114031300031_1.html|title=Sri Lanka regrets removal of Ukrainian president|date=13 March 2014|work=business-standard.com|accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| Polish Prime Minister ] called for change in EU energy policy as Germany's dependence on Russian gas poses risks for Europe.<ref name="GuardianRussiaMerkel" /> | |||
| On 13 March, German Chancellor ] warned Moscow it risks massive damage to Russia, economically and politically, if it refuses to change course on Ukraine,<ref name="GuardianRussiaMerkel">{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411094020/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel |archivedate=April 11, 2014 |title=Russia risks political and economic damage over Ukraine, says Merkel|work=The Guardian|date=13 March 2014}}</ref> though close economic links between Germany and Russia significantly reduce the scope for Berlin to sanction the Eurasian giant.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Bryant |first = Chris |date = 27 March 2014 |title = German business concerns grow over Russia ties |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ccc5cfd8-b449-11e3-bac4-00144feabdc0.html |work = ] |accessdate = 27 March 2014 |quote = German entities have invested roughly €20bn in Russia and some 6,200 companies – mostly small and medium-sized Mittelstand businesses – are active there. Last year trade between the two countries totalled more than €76bn. … Russia supplies 35 per cent of German gas and 30 per cent of its oil. }}</ref> | |||
| After Russia moved to formally incorporate Crimea, some worried whether it may not do the same in other regions.<ref name=Transdniester>{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Colin|title=Russian troops poised to 'run' into Moldova, Nato commander warns|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/moldova/10717260/Russian-troops-poised-to-run-into-Moldova-Nato-commander-warns.html|accessdate=24 March 2014|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 March 2014}}</ref> US deputy national security advisor ] said that the Russian troops massed on the eastern Ukrainian border may be preparing to enter the country's eastern regions. Russian officials stated that Russian troops would not enter other areas.<ref name=Transdniester /> US Air Force Gen. ], NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, warned that the same troops were in a position to take over the separatist Russian-speaking ]n province of ].<ref name=Transdniester /> | |||
| On 9 April, the ] deprived Russia of voting rights.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rfe/Rl |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-ukraine-pace-/25327665.html |title=PACE Deprives Russia of Voting Rights |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=10 April 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> | |||
| On 14 August, while visiting Crimea, Vladimir Putin ruled out pushing beyond Crimea. He undertook to do everything he could to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying Russia needed to build calmly and with dignity, not by confrontation and war which isolated it from the rest of the world.<ref name="PutinConciliatory">{{cite news|title=Putin talks of peace in annexed Crimea|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/vladimir-putin-delivers-speech-in-crimea/5672208|date=14 August 2014|accessdate=15 August 2014|publisher=ABC AU}}</ref> | |||
| === United Nations resolutions === | |||
| {{multiple image | |||
| | direction = vertical | |||
| | width = 300 | |||
| | image1 = 2014 UN Security Council vote to condemn Crimean referendum.png | |||
| | caption1 = ] vote on a draft resolution condemning the 2014 Crimean referendum. | |||
| {{legend|#287cfe|Voted in favour of the resolution}} | |||
| {{legend|#007f00|Abstained}} | |||
| {{legend|#ff0000|Vetoed the resolution}} | |||
| | image2 = UN Resolution regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine.svg | |||
| | caption2 = UN General Assembly vote on the resolution condemning the 2014 Crimean referendum. | |||
| {{legend|#74C365|In favour of considering the referendum illegal}} | |||
| {{legend|#ab4e52|Against adopting the resolution}} | |||
| {{legend|#FADA5E|Abstained}} | |||
| {{legend|#89CFF0|Absent when the vote took place}} | |||
| | image3 = | |||
| | caption3 = | |||
| }} | |||
| ==== Security Council resolution ==== | |||
| On 15 March 2014 a US-sponsored resolution was put forward to vote in the ] ] to reaffirm council's commitment to Ukraine's "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity." | |||
| A total of 13 council members voted in favour of the resolution, China abstained, while Russia vetoed the U.N. resolution declaring ], on the future of Crimean Peninsula, as illegal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/15/russia-vetoes-un-resolution-crimea/6456495/ |title=Russia vetoes U.N. resolution on Crimea's future |agency=] |date=15 March 2014 |work=]|accessdate=28 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ==== General Assembly resolution ==== | |||
| On 27 March 2014, The ] ] approved a ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/ga11493.doc.htm|title=General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling upon States Not to Recognize Changes in Status of Crimea Region|date=27 March 2014|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=28 March 2014}}</ref> describing the ] leading to annexation of Crimea by Russia as illegal. The draft resolution, which was titled 'Territorial integrity of Ukraine' was co-sponsored by Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the US. It affirmed council's commitment to the "sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders." The resolution tried to underscore that the 16 March referendum held in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has no validity and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or of the city of Sevastopol. The resolution got 100 votes in its favour, while 11 nations voted against and 58 countries abstained from the vote. The resolution was non-binding and the vote was largely symbolic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416|title=Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans|date=27 March 2014|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=28 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| ===Recognition=== | |||
| The vast majority of the international community has not recognised the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia. Most nations located in ], ], ], ], ], as well as non-former-Soviet-Union ] have openly rejected the referendum and the accession, and instead consider Crimea and Sevastopol to be administrative divisions of Ukraine. The remainder have largely remained neutral. The vote on ] (supporting the position that Crimea and Sevastopol remain part of Ukraine) was 100 to 11 in favour, with 58 states abstaining and a further 24 of the 193 member states not voting through being absent when the vote took place. The 100 states voting in favour represented about 34% of the world's population, the 11 against represented about 4.5%, the 58 abstentions represented about 58%, and the 24 absents represented about 3.5%. | |||
| Several members of the United Nations have made statements about their recognition of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as federal subjects of Russia: | |||
| {{columns-list|2| | |||
| * {{flag|Afghanistan}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Afghan president Hamid Karzai backs Russia's annexation of Crimea|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/24/afghan-president-hamid-karzai-backs-russia-annexation-crimea|accessdate=30 November 2014|work=The Guardian|date=24 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|Cuba}}<ref name="moscow-times-497144">{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/visiting-russia-fidel-castro-s-son-scoffs-at-u-s-sanctions-over-crimea/497144.html|title=Visiting Russia, Fidel Castro's Son Scoffs at U.S. Sanctions Over Crimea |work=The Moscow Times}}</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|Nicaragua}}<ref name="kyiv-post-341102">{{cite web |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/nicaragua-recognizes-crimea-as-part-of-russia-341102.html |title=Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia|work=Kyiv Post|date = 27 March 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|North Korea}}<ref>. Lenta.ru. 30 December 2014.</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|Russia}}<ref name="itar-tass-724749">. itar-tass.com. 21 March 2014</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|Syria}}<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/crimea-ukraine.html |title=Gunmen Seize Government Buildings in Crimea|work=The New York Times|date= 27 February 2014|accessdate= 1 March 2014 |quote = Masked men with guns seized government buildings in the capital of Ukraine's Crimea region on Thursday, barricading themselves inside and raising the Russian flag after mysterious overnight raids that appeared to be the work of militant Russian nationalists who want this volatile Black Sea region ruled from Moscow.}}</ref> | |||
| * {{flag|Venezuela}}<ref name=NYT /> | |||
| }} | |||
| The position of ] is vague: it includes statements made by ] that "Ukraine should remain an integral, indivisible, non-aligned state" and "As for Crimea, I do not like it when the integrity and independence of a country are broken", on the one hand, and "Today Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. No matter whether you recognize it or not, the fact remains." and "Whether Crimea will be recognized as a region of the Russian Federation de-jure does not really matter", on the other hand.<ref>. president.gov.by. 23 March 2014.</ref> | |||
| Three ] recognised the results of the referendum: ], ], and ]. A fourth, ], sent a request on 18 March 2014 to join the Russian Federation following the Crimean example and in compliance with the Admission Law provisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/52743.html |title=Transnistria wants to merge with Russia |publisher=Vestnik Kavkaza |date=18 March 2014 |accessdate=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26627236 |title=Moldova's Trans-Dniester region pleads to join Russia |publisher=BBC |date=18 March 2014 |accessdate=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/world/724121 |title=Dniester public organizations ask Russia to consider possibility of Transnistria accession |agency=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia |date=18 March 2014 |accessdate=18 March 2014}}</ref> On 16 April 2014 Transnistria urged Russia and the United Nations to recognise its independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/transnistria-urges-kremlin-un-recognise-independence-1445126|title=Transnistria Urges Kremlin and UN to Recognise Independence|work=International Business Times|author=Gianluca Mezzofiore|date=16 April 2014|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> Putin is aware of Transnistria's recognition request, according to ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/peskov-putin-aware-of-transnistrias-request-on-independence-recognition-343896.html|title=Peskov: Putin aware of Transnistria's request on independence recognition|date=17 April 2014|accessdate=6 May 2014|work=Kyiv Post}}</ref> | |||
| === Commentary === | |||
| Russian opposition activist and chess Grandmaster ], former US National Security Advisor ], former US secretary of state ], Ukrainian MP ] (]), former foreign minister of the Czech Republic, ], as well as the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada ] all compared Russia's actions to Nazi Germany's policy before the start of ], after the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Crimea invasion: Putin acting like Hitler in Ukraine land snatch |newspaper=The International Business Times |place=UK |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/crimea-invasion-putin-acting-like-hitler-ukraine-land-snatch-1438714}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hillary Clinton says Vladimir Putin's Crimea occupation echoes Hitler|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/06/hillary-clinton-says-vladimir-putins-crimea-occupation-echoes-hitler|newspaper=The Guardian|date=March 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Reitschuster">{{cite news|last=Reitschuster|first=Boris|title=Sochi is to Putin what Berlin in 1936 was to Hitler, says Garry Kasparov|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/07/sochi-vladimir-putin-hitler-berlin-garry-kasparov |newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="video.cnbc.com">{{cite video |title=Putin 'a new Hitler heading for Europe': Ukrainian MP|publisher=CNBC |url=http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000251410}}</ref><ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |place=Canada |title=John Baird compares Russia's Ukraine response to Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/john-baird-compares-russia-s-actions-in-ukraine-to-nazi-invasion-of-czechoslovakia-1.2558118}}</ref> | |||
| German finance minister ], Chancellor Angela Merkel and Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier all stated, that such comparisons are unacceptable.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://top.rbc.ru/politics/04/04/2014/915613.shtml|script-title=ru:Глава Минфина ФРГ: Я не сравнивал Россию с нацистской Германией|date = 4 April 2014|website = top.]|language = Russian}}</ref> However Chancellor Merkel also said "The so-called referendum…, the declaration of independence …, and the absorption into the Russian Federation (were), in our firm opinion,…against international law"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.de/20140318/merkel-crimea-grab-against-international-law|title=Merkel: Crimea grab 'against international law'}}</ref> and that it was "shameful" for Russia to compare the independence of Kosovo with the referendum on the Russian annexation Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/123454|title=EUobserver / Merkel: Comparing Crimea to Kosovo is 'shameful'}}</ref> In March, 2015, after talks with Petro Poroshenko, Angela Merkel remarked that the annexation was in violation of international law, and therefore it's Germany's goal to restore the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine.<ref name="NYTGermanysGoal">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/03/16/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-ukraine.html?_r=0 | title=Germany's Goal: Restoring Russia-Annexed Crimea to Ukraine | work=New York Times | date=March 16, 2015 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=March 16, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| British prime minister David Cameron said "No amount of sham and perverse democratic process or skewed historical references can make up for the fact that this is an incursion into a sovereign state and a land grab of part of its territory with no respect for the law of that country or for international law."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/ukraine-uk-push-sanctions-russia-crimea|title=Ukraine: UK to push for tougher sanctions against Russia over Crimea|author=Nicholas Watt|work=The Guardian}}</ref> | |||
| American president Barrack Obama commented, "the Crimean 'referendum,' which violates the Ukrainian constitution and occurred under duress of Russian military intervention, would never be recognized by the United States and the international community."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/16/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/|title=Ukraine crisis: Early results show Crimea votes to join Russia|author=Laura Smith-Spark, Diana Magnay and Nick Paton Walsh, CNN|date=16 March 2014|publisher=CNN}}</ref> | |||
| The European Council and the European Commission made the joint statement "The European Union does neither recognise the illegal and illegitimate referendum in Crimea nor its outcome."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-74_en.htm|title=European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Joint statement on Crimea by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso}}</ref> | |||
| Former ] ] called Russia's actions "perfectly understandable", and considers sanctions being imposed by the US and EU "foolish".<ref name="spiegel.de"> '']'' – Retrieved on March 27, 2014</ref> | |||
| ] President ] said: "Even though I understand the interests of Crimea’s Russian-speaking majority, which was annexed to Ukraine by Khrushchev, we have our experience with the 1968 Russian military invasion."<ref>"". Bloomberg. 3 March 2014</ref> Estonian President ] stated that the annexation was "done too quickly and professionally not to have been planned far in advance" and said that the failure of the ] "may have far-reaching implications for generations. I don't know what country in the future would ever give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for a security guarantee."<ref name=TAI141222>{{cite news |url= http://www.the-american-interest.com/2014/12/22/we-have-allowed-aggression-to-stand/ |title= We Have Allowed Aggression to Stand |first= David J. |last= Kramer |work= The American Interest |date= 22 December 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| Former ] leader ] has defended the referendum that led to Crimea's annexation by Russia: "While Crimea had previously been joined to Ukraine based on the Soviet laws, which means party laws, without asking the people, now the people themselves have decided to correct that mistake."<ref>"". ]. 18 March 2014.</ref> | |||
| === Sanctions === | |||
| {{further|International sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis|List of individuals sanctioned during the Ukrainian crisis}} | |||
| ]" names. I think I'd be wise to keep my distance from them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/6911 |title=President of Russia |publisher=Eng.kremlin.ru |date=21 March 2014 |accessdate=18 May 2014}}</ref>]] | |||
| Sanctions were imposed to prevent Russian and Crimean officials and politicians travelling to Canada, the United States, and the European Union. They were the most wide-ranging used on Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.<ref name="Katakey">{{Cite news |last = Katakey |first = Rakteem |date = 25 March 2014 |title = Russian Oil Seen Heading East Not West in Crimea Spat |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/russian-oil-seen-heading-east-not-west-in-crimea-spat.html |publisher = ] |accessdate = 25 March 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| Japan announced milder sanctions than the US and EU. These include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/|title=Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence|work=Fox News}}</ref> | |||
| In response to the sanctions introduced by the US and EU, the ] unanimously passed a resolution asking for all members of the Duma to be included on the sanctions list.<ref name="dumasanctions">{{cite news|url=http://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/news/2014_03_18/All-Russian-MPs-volunteer-to-be-subject-to-US-EU-sanctions-7889/|title=All Russian MPs volunteer to be subject to US, EU sanctions|publisher=2014-03-18|accessdate=20 March 2014}}</ref> Head of the opposition ] party ] said he was proud of being included on the sanctions list, "It is with pride that I have found myself on the black list, this means they have noticed my stance on Crimea."<ref name=dumasanctions/> Russian companies started pulling billions of dollars out of Western banks to avoid any asset freeze.<ref name = "FT freeze">{{Cite news |last1 = Jenkins |first1 = Patrick |last2 = Schäfer |first2 = Daniel |last3 = Weaver |first3 = Courtney |last4 = Farchy |first4 = Jack |date = 14 March 2014 |title = Russian companies withdraw billions from west, say Moscow bankers |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ffea2660-ab9e-11e3-aad9-00144feab7de.html |work = ] |accessdate = 27 March 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| Three days after the lists were published, the ] published a reciprocal sanctions list of US citizens, which consisted of 10 names, including House of Representatives Speaker ], Senator ], and two advisers to President Obama. The ministry said in the statement, "Treating our country in such way, as Washington could have already ascertained, is inappropriate and counterproductive," and reiterated that sanctions against Russia would have a boomerang effect.<ref> '']'' Retrieved on 20 March 2014</ref> Several of those sanctioned responded with pride at their inclusion on the list, including ],<ref name=WaPo>{{cite news|last=Lowery & O'Keefe|first=Wesley & Ed|title=Reacting to sanctions, Russians ban Reid, Boehner and four other lawmakers|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/20/reacting-to-sanctions-russians-ban-reid-boehner-and-7-other-lawmakers/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 March 2014}}</ref> ],<ref name=WaPo/> ],<ref name=NJ>{{cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Darryl|title=Bob Menendez is banned from Russia|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bob_menendez_is_banned_from_russia.html|newspaper=NJ|date=20 March 2014}}</ref> ],<ref name=WaPo/> ],<ref name=Slate>{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|title=Senators Celebrate Being Sanctioned by Russia|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/20/senators_celebrate_being_sanctioned_by_russia.html|newspaper=Slate|date=20 March 2014}}</ref> and ].<ref name=Slate/> | |||
| On 24 March, Russia has imposed retaliatory sanctions on 13 Canadian officials including members of the ],<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{cite news|author=Steven Chase |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/russia-bans-entry-to-13-canadians-in-retaliation-for-ottawas-sanctions/article17635115/ |title=Russia imposes sanctions on 13 Canadians, including MPs |work=The Globe and Mail |date=24 March 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> banning them from entering Russia. Foreign Affairs Minister ], said the sanctions were "a badge of honour."<ref>{{cite news|author=Susana Mas|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-sanctions-against-canadians-a-badge-of-honour-1.2584137|title=Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour'|date=24 March 2014|work=cbc.ca}}</ref> Former ] ] also said that he considered the sanctions a badge of honour, not a mark of exclusion.<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/> | |||
| In March 2014, ''The Christian Science Monitor'' reported, "The good news is that so far, Russia has shown no inclination to use the NDN ], key supply line to ] that runs through Russia] as leverage in the wake of US retaliation for its troop movements in Crimea."<ref>"," '']'', 4 March 2014.</ref> | |||
| Expanded Western sanctions in mid-March coursed through financial markets, hitting the business interests of some Russia's richest people.<ref name = "FT share prices">{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Hume |first2 = Neil |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Russian share prices drop as sanctions bite |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ffba124-b0d6-11e3-9f6f-00144feab7de.html |work = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> The Americans' centred on the heart of Moscow's leadership,<ref name = "FT inner circle">{{Cite news |last = Buckley|first = Neil |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Putin feels the heat as sanctions target president's inner circle |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c8859528-b11c-11e3-bbd4-00144feab7de.html |work = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> though the EU's initial list shied from targeting Putin's inner circle.<ref name = "EU trade war">{{Cite news |last = Traynor |first = Ian |date = 21 March 2014 |title = European Union prepares for trade war with Russia over Crimea |url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/21/eu-mobilises-trade-war-russia-crimea-ukraine |work = ] |accessdate = 22 March 2014 }}</ref> As ratings agencies ] and ] downgraded Russia's credit outlook,<ref name = "Bloomberg downgrade">{{Cite news |last = Tanas |first = Olga |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Russia's Credit Outlook Cut as U.S., EU Widen Sanction Lists |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-20/russia-outlook-cut-to-negative-by-s-p-as-obama-widens-sanctions.html |publisher = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> Russian banks warned of a sanctions-induced recession,<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Timu |first1 = Andra |last2 = Meyer |first2 = Henry |last3 = Tanas |first3 = Olga |date = 23 March 2014 |title = Russia Staring at Recession on Sanctions That Could Get Tougher |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/russia-staring-at-recession-on-sanctions-that-could-get-tougher.html |publisher = ] |accessdate = 23 March 2014 }}</ref> the country braced for capital outflows for the first three months of 2014 to reach $70 billion,<ref name = "FT capital flows">{{Cite news |last1 = Hille |first1 = Kathrin |last2 = McGregor |first2 = Richard |date = 24 March 2014 |title = Russia braced for $70bn in outflows |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/19b9ad88-b37c-11e3-bc21-00144feabdc0.html |work = ] |accessdate = 24 March 2014 }}</ref> more than the entirety of outflows for 2013,<ref name="ft.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Weaver |first1 = Courtney |last2 = Farchy |first2 = Jack |date = 25 March 2014 |title = Funds cut Russian holdings after sanctions |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b67f8da4-b3f4-11e3-a102-00144feabdc0.html |work = ] |accessdate = 27 March 2014 |quote = Deputy economy minister Andrei Klepach estimates that Russian capital outflows will total up to $70bn in the first quarter, more than the $63bn that left the country during the whole of 2013.}}</ref> and Russian government-bond issues plummeted by three-quarters compared with the same period the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Arnold |first2 = Martin |date = 18 April 2014 |title = Banks retreat from Moscow deals |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36e988ea-c576-11e3-89a9-00144feabdc0.html |work = Financial Times |accessdate = 19 April 2014 }}</ref> Novatek, Russia's second-largest gas producer, saw $2.5bn in market value wiped out when its shares sank by nearly 10%, rendering Putin's close friend ], who has a 23% stake in the company, $575m poorer.<ref name = "FT share prices"/> "I do hope that there is some serious diplomatic activity going on behind the scenes," said one Russian banker,<ref name = "FT executives">{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Hille |first2 = Kathrin |last3 = Weaver |first3 = Courtney |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Russian executives quake as US sanctions rattle markets |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f35068a-b119-11e3-9548-00144feab7de.html |work = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> though others were more sanguine on the question of whether the sanctions would have any enduring effect,<ref name = "Bloomberg downgrade"/><ref name = "Bloomberg muted">{{Cite news |last = Pavliva |first = Halia |date = 23 March 2014 |title = EU's Muted Crimea Response Triggers Russian Stock Rebound |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/eu-s-muted-crimea-response-triggers-russian-stock-rebound.html |publisher = ] |accessdate = 23 March 2014 }}</ref><ref name="uk.reuters.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Matzen |first1 = Eric |last2 = Martin |first2 = Michelle |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Russian sanctions ripple through corporate boardrooms |url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/21/uk-europe-sanctions-idUKBREA2K1VD20140321 |agency = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> and Russians, top and bottom, seemed defiant.<ref name = "FT defiant">{{Cite news |last = Hille |first = Kathrin |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Putin boosted by defiant tone at top and among people |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1dca5172-b122-11e3-9548-00144feab7de.html |work = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> The official Russian response was mixed.<ref>{{Cite news |last1 = Alpert |first1 = Lukas I. |last2 = Sonne |first2 = Paul |date = 21 March 2014 |title = Russia Sends Mixed Signals in Response to U.S. Sanctions |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579452751446729822 |work = ] |accessdate = 21 March 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation ] said what introduction of sectoral sanctions will lead to a serious decline of the Russian economy: economic growth of Russia will became seriously negative, the growth of volumes of investment will be even more negative, inflation will be on the rise, and government revenues and reserves will go down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8D%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D1%84-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B9/a-17743705|title=Минэкономразвития РФ опасается негативного влияния западных санкций|publisher=Deutsche Welle|accessdate=2 October 2014}}</ref> | |||
| As well as differences between the United States and Europe as a whole as to how to respond to the Russian-backed incursion, those same differences have played out among Eastern European countries.<ref name = "Bberg EE diffs">{{Cite news |last = Fraher |first = John |date = 18 April 2014 |title = Energy Needs Curb Eastern EU Hunger for Russian Sanctions |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-18/putin-gas-splits-eastern-eu-over-russia-sanctions.html |publisher = Bloomberg L.P. |accessdate = 18 April 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| === Mapping === | |||
| * The ] still maps Crimea as belonging to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/ukraine.pdf|format=PDF|title=Map of Ukraine|publisher=]|accessdate=7 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| * ] stated that their policy is "to portray current reality" and "Crimea, if it is formally annexed by Russia, would be shaded gray", but also further remarked that this step does not suggest recognising legitimacy of such.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/19/statement-regarding-the-mapping-of-crimea/|title = Statement Regarding the Mapping of Crimea|date = 19 March 2014|publisher = ]}}</ref> As of April 2014 Crimea is still displayed as part of Ukraine.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url = https://hi-tech.mail.ru/news/new-krym-maps.html|script-title=ru:КРЫМ НА КАРТАХ МИРА: СИТУАЦИЯ ПОМЕНЯЛАСЬ|date = 11 April 2014|website = hi-tech.]|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| * ] displays Crimea as a disputed territory to most viewers.<ref name=":1" /> For the Russian and Ukrainian versions of website, Crimea is marked as belonging to corresponding country (Russia or Ukraine respectively).<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/04/11/googlecrimea/|title=Google сделала Крым российским на картах для рунета|website=]|date=11 April 2014|language=Russian}}</ref> Google stated that it "work with sources to get the best interpretation of the border or claim lines".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-21/russian-cartographers-add-crimea-to-maps-amid-sanctions|title = Russian Cartographers Add Crimea to Maps Amid Sanctions|last = Kyle O'Donnell and Julie Johnsson|date = 22 March 2014|publisher = ]}}</ref> | |||
| * ] Maps displays Crimea according to official position of user's country. Users visiting Yandex.ru from Russia will see Crimea displayed as Russian territory, users visiting yandex.ua from Ukraine will see Crimea as Ukrainian and all other users (from other countries) will see Crimea as Russian territory.<ref name=":1" /> According to official statement, the company works with users from different countries and "displays reality that surrounds them".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://slon.ru/fast/world/yandeks-pokazyvaet-raznye-karty-v-rossii-i-na-ukraine-1074691.xhtml|script-title=ru:"Яндекс" показывает разные карты в России и на Украине|date = 22 March 2014|website = slon.ru|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| * ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://tass.ru/en/russia/725342|title = Parliament challenges mapmakers to mark Crimea Russian territory|date = 26 March 2014|website = ]}}</ref> ] and ] display Crimea as belonging to Ukraine.<ref name=":1" /> In particular, Open Street Map requested its users to refrain from editing borders and administrative relations of subdivisions located in Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol until 31 May 2014.<ref name=":1" /> On 5 June 2014 ] switched to a territorial dispute option, displaying Crimea as a disputed territory belonging to both countries.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.osmfoundation.org/Working_Group_Minutes/DWG_2014-06-05_Special_Crimea|title = Statement by the DWG on edit conflicts in Crimea|publisher = OpenStreetMap Foundation|date = 5 June 2014|quote = In the short-term Crimea shall remain in both the Ukraine and Russia administrative relations, and be indicated as disputed. We recognize that being in two administrative relations is not a good long-term solution, although the region is likely to be indicated as disputed for some time.}}</ref> | |||
| * ] maps display Crimea as part of Russia<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news|url = http://ria.ru/world/20140319/1000202184.html|title = Mail.ru и Yandex изменят карты в связи с присоединением Крыма к России|agency = ]|date = 19 March 2014|language = Russian}}</ref> | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| == Economic impact == | |||
| While initially, right after the annexation, salaries, especially those of government workers, rose, this was soon offset by the increase in prices caused by the ]. Subsequently, after Russian authority became established, wages were cut back again by 30% to 70%. Tourism, previously Crimea's main industry, suffered in particular; it was down by 50% from 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/20/opinions/crimea-anniversary/ |title=Back in the USSR? Spying and control in the new Crimea |publisher=CNN.com |date=20 March 2015 |accessdate=24 March 2015}}</ref> Crimean agricultural yields were also significantly impacted by the annexation. Ukraine cut off supplies of water through the ], causing the 2014 rice crop to fail, and greatly damaging the ] and ] crops.<ref name="6ME">{{cite news | url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/crimea-rice-crop-fails-over-water-war-with-ukraine/499562.html | title=Crimea Rice Crop Fails Over Water War With Ukraine | work=The Moscow Times | date=6 May 2014 | accessdate=22 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Sister project links | |||
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| |v=no |voy=no |wikt=no | |||
| }} | |||
| * | |||
| {{2014 Crimean crisis}} | |||
| {{2013–2015 Ukrainian Crisis navbox}} | |||
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