Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tlhslobus (talk | contribs) at 03:48, 29 March 2014 (→See also: UN GA 68/39). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

It is requested that the page history of Political status of Crimea be merged into the history of this page. This action must be performed by an administrator (compare pages). The requester left this additional comment: Contributions by User:Incnis Mrsi should be merged here before this diff Consider placing {{subst:Uw-c&pmove|Political status of Crimea|to=Political status of Crimea}} ~~~~ on the talk page of the editor who performed the cut-and-paste move. Administrators: Before merging the page histories, read the instructions at Misplaced Pages:How to fix cut-and-paste moves carefully. An incorrect history merge is very difficult to undo. Also check Misplaced Pages:Requests for history merge for possible explanation of complex cases.

This article or section recently underwent a major revision or rewrite and may need further review. You can help Misplaced Pages by assisting in the revision. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. This article was last edited by Tlhslobus (talk | contribs) 10 years ago. (Update timer)

The political status of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol is the subject of a political and territorial turmoil between Ukraine and Russia. Now on the one hand, Ukraine and the majority of the international community consider both Crimea and Sevastopol as administrative divisions of Ukraine, while Russia, on the other hand, considers both to be under a Russian federal district. The dispute came into being after the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol merged together as one so as to create the brand new as a single united nation and then unilaterally declared their independence from Ukraine. This nation then acceded to Russia, where it became the aforementioned federal district, while the Autonomous Republic became the Republic of Crimea as a Russian federal subject and Sevastopol became a Russian federal city. However, Ukraine and the majority of the international community do not consider the merge, the independence, nor the accession as legitimate and still consider both entities as divisions of Ukraine.

Background

Following the 2014 Crimean crisis, the newly formed Supreme Council of Crimea declared Crimea's independence from Ukraine on 11 March 2014. While 97% percent of voters voted to leave Ukraine, and the new government of Crimea officially declared independence, the referendum was widely condemned in the Western world as illegitimate, primarily because the referendum included an option to join Russia while the region was under military occupation by Russia itself. The European Union, United States, Canada and several other nations condemned the decision to hold a referendum. In addition, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People—the unofficial political association of the Crimean Tatars—called for a boycott of the referendum.

The Republic of Crimea was only recognized by Russian Federation and was seeking UN recognition. The ultimate goal of Crimea's secession was to have Crimea eventually join Russia as a federal subject. The European Union and others have condemned the referendum. The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a resolution declaring the referendum invalid, as Russia exercised its right to veto as a permanent member of the council, however, the member states of NATO have stated that they will not recognize the referendum.

On 18 March 2014, Russia and Crimea have signed treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol in the Russian Federation following President Putin’s address to the Parliament. During the transition period which will last until 1 January 2015, both sides will resolve the issues of integration of the new subjects “in the economic, financial, credit and legal system of the Russian Federation.”

On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly declared the referendum invalid and reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity, by a vote of 100 to 11, with 58 abstentions and 24 absent.

Stances

Ukraine

The recently installed government of Ukraine, along with most sovereign states in the world, did not recognize the Republic of Crimea's claim to sovereignty, nor the unification of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with Sevastopol, nor the referendum that paved the way for Crimean secession.

Russia

Claims of Russia are based on its recognition of the short-lived Republic of Crimea with which Russia concluded the abovementioned treaty of accession according to its right to self-determination.

The Constitutional Court of Russia approved the accession of Crimea.

International community

Six members of the United Nations have recognized the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to be part of Russia: Afghanistan, Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria and Venezuela, and several others supported the validity of the Crimean referendum. Those include Armenia, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The vast majority of the international community, however, do not recognize the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia and instead consider them to be administrative divisions of Ukraine. These nations include those located in North America, Europe, and Oceania, as well as a majority of those in Central America, Southeast Asia and some in Africa.

See also

• International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis
• United Nations General Assembly resolution 68/39

References

1. "Mejlis to boycott Crimean referendum&". Ukrinform.ua. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
2. "Tatar leader: referendum's results 'predetermined'". DW.DE. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
3. Крым обращается к ООН и всем государствам мира с просьбой о признании. Echo.msk.ru (17 March 2014). Retrieved on 23 March 2014.
4. Security Council Fails to Adopt Text Urging Member States Not to Recognize Planned 16 March Referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea Region. Un.org. 15 March 2014.
5. "NATO Allies won't recognize Crimea's annexation to Russia". Kyiv Post. 19 March 2014.
6. "Treaty to accept Crimea, Sevastopol to Russian Federation signed". Russia Today. 18 March 2014.
7. United Nations News Centre - Backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid. Un.org (1 March 2014). Retrieved on 28 March 2014.
8. U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid. Reuters. 27 March 2014.
9. ^ Rosenberg, Matthew (23 March 2014) Breaking With the West, Afghan Leader Supports Russia’s Annexation of Crimea. New York Times
10. Belarusian president: Crimea is de-facto part of Russia. rt.com. 23 March 2014
11. Lukashenko: Crimea is part of Russia now. itar-tass.com. 23 March 2014
12. "Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia". Kyiv Post. 27 March 2014.
13. Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea’s entry to Russia. itar-tass.com. 21 March 2014
14. Sarkisian Backs Crimean Referendum in Phone Call with Putin. asbarez.com. 19 March 2014
15. ^ Afghanistan respects Crimea's right to self-determination – Karzai. rt.com. 22 March 2014
16. ^ UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal. Associated Press via Fox News. 27 March 2014
17. Kazakhstan supported Russia on the ‘Crimean question’. qha.com.ua. 19 March 2014
18. Kyrgyzstan Recognizes Crimea Referendum Results. ria.ru. 20 March 2014.
19. Маргелов: лидеры африканских стран поддерживают позицию РФ по Крыму. ria.ru. 20 March 2014
20. Африка признаёт референдум // Метро.- № 35 (47/2965). 21 March 2014. p. 4

• Recently revised from March 2014
• Diplomatic recognition
• 2014 Crimean crisis
• Politics of Crimea
• Secession in Ukraine