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Following anti-government protests that began in 2013, and culminated in the impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovich, residents of the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, protested against the move. This led to polarization to a level that warnings were issued against the partition of Ukraine.

Background

Towards the end of 2013, anti-government protests began over the issue of Accession of Ukraine to the European Union which President Viktor Yanukovich rejected. This was viewed by the media as a step closer towards Russia-Ukraine relations. As the protests escalated into 2014, it eventually led to deaths as a result of violence. Parliament then voted to impeach Yanukovich as he went into hiding; an arrest warrant was also issued for him. In the aftermath, Ukraine disbanded the Berkut, which acting interior minister Arsen Avakov accused of being culpable for the deaths. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian Armed Forces to be "put on alert in the Western Military District as well as units stationed with the 2nd Army Central Military District Command involved in aerospace defense, airborne troops and long-range military transport." Despite media speculation it was for in reaction to the events in Ukraine Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said it was in separate consideration from the unrest in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of Crimea Anatolii Mohyliov declared recognition of the new provisional government in Kiev and that the region would carry out all laws passed by parliament.

Protests

The Parliament of Crimea called for an extraordinary session on 21 February. The leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People said he suspected that the session may ask for Russian military intervention. "Tomorrow may be a decision that will bring chaos and disaster to Crimea."

In Simferopol, a pro-Euromaidan rally of between 5,000–15,000 was held in support of the new government. The protesters also demanded the resignation of the Crimean parliament; attendees waved Ukrainian, Tatar and European Union flags. Meanwhile in Sevastopol, thousands protested against the new authorities and voted to establish a parallel administration and civil defense squads created with the support of Russian Night Wolves bikers. Protesters waved Russian flags and chanted "Putin is our president" and claimed they would refuse to pay further taxes to the state. Russian military convoys were also alleged to be seen in the area. In Kerch, pro-Russian protesters attempted to remove the Ukrainian flag from atop city hall and replace it with the flag of Russia. Over 200 attended waving flags of Russia, orange-and-black St. George and the Russian Unity party. Mayor Oleh Osadchy attempted to disperse the crowd and police eventually arrived to keep the protesters at bay. Osadchy said: "This is the territory of Ukraine, Crimea. Here's a flag of Crimea" but was accused of treason and a fight ensued over the flagpole.

On 24 February, more protesters rallied outside the Sevastopol administration offices. Pro-Russian demonstrators accompanied by neo-Cossacks demanded the selection of a Russian citizen as mayor (which was refused by the city council) and planted Russian flags at city hall; they also handed out leaflets calling for volunteers to a militia and warning that the "Blue-Brown Europlague is knocking." On 25 February, several hundred pro-Russian protesters blocked the Crimean parliament demanding a referendum on Crimea's independence.

On 25 February, Sevastopol chose Alexei Chaly, a Russian citizen, as mayor. This was controversial as the Chairman of the Sevastopol City State Administration is appointed by the President of Ukraine by statute. A thousand protesters present chanted "a Russian mayor for a Russian city." Crowds gathered again outside Sevastopol's city hall again as rumours spread that security forces could arrest Chaly, but police chief Alexander Goncharov said that his officers would refuse to carry out "criminal orders" issued by the central government. Viktor Neganov, a Sevastopol-based adviser to the interior minister, condemned the events in the city as a coup. "Chaly represents the interests of the Kremlin which likely gave its tacit approval." The Chairman of the Sevastopol City State Administration, appointed by the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Yatsuba, was booed and whistled on 23 February when he told a pro-Russian rally that Crimea was a part of Ukraine, he resigned the next day. In Simferopol, the Regional State Administration building was blockaded with hundreds of protesters, including neo-Cossacks, demanding a referendum of separation; the rally was organized by the Crimean Front.

On 26 February, thousands of protesters clashed in Simferopol. Near the Supreme Council of Crimea building between 4,000 and 5,000 Crimean Tatars and supporters of the Euromaidan-Crimea movement faced 600-700 supporters of pro-Russian organisations and the Russian Unity Party. Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov said that the Crimean parliament will not discuss the issue of separation from Ukraine and that earlier reports that parliament would discuss the motion were provocations. During the clashes, one man died of an heart attack. Crimean Tatars created self-defense groups and called on activists to unite with Russian, Ukrainian and people of other nationalities to avoid provocations and to protect churches, mosques, synagogues and other important sites. By nightfall, the Crimean Tatars had left; several hundred Russian Unity supporters rallied on. The new Ukrainian regime's acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov tasked Crimean law enforcement agencies not to provoke conflicts and to do whatever necessary to prevent clashes with pro-Russian forces and added that "I think, that way - through a dialogue - we shall achieve much more than with standoffs " The new head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Valentyn Nalyvaichenko requested United Nations round-the-clock monitoring of the security situation on the peninsula.

Political events

As an international arrest warrant was issued for Yanukovich, pro and anti-government protests occurred in Simferopol. As the protests got more heated, the police intervened to separate the protesters.

On 26 February, Russian troops took control of the main route of access to Sevastopol following orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin. A military checkpoint, with a Russian flag and Russian military vehicles, was set up on the main highway between the city and Simferopol.

Reactions

Party of Regions and Crimean parliament Speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said to the protesters: "I share your anxiety and concern about the future of Crimea. I declare that I'm not going anywhere and will be here with you. We will fight for an autonomous republic until the end."

Other

Several scholars have discussed the possibility of Russian military intervention in Crimea specifically, due to its unique geopolitical nature and demographics. In response to this, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that "it will use severe measures to prevent any action taken against diminishing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine." The biggest party in the Parliament of Crimea, Party of Regions who held 80 of the 100 seats, did not discuss issues relating to the separation of Crimea from Ukraine and implied to be supportive of the deal struck between President Yanukovych and the opposition to end the crises signed in Kiev the same day.

Russia

The State Duma Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, headed by Leonid Slutsky, visited Simferopol on 25 September and said: "If the parliament of the Crimean autonomy or its residents express the wish to join the Russian Federation, Russia will be prepared to consider this sort of application. We will be examining the situation and doing so fast." They also stated that in the event of a referendum for Crimea region joining Russian Federation they would consider its results "very fast" . 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. And added that if "fellow Russian citizens are in jeopardy you understand that we do not stay away". On 25 February in a meeting with Crimean politicians he stated that Viktor Yanukovych was still the legitimate president of Ukraine. 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.

Notes

1. It also noted that "certain politicians, local government officials, leaders of civil society organizations, and radically inclined individuals have attempted to create grounds for escalating the civil conflict, and have spread autonomous and separatist attitudes among the people, which could lead to the demise of our as a united nation and loss of its national sovereignty." In addition, the statement said that certain lawmakers of every level have begun separatist negotiations with representatives of foreign nations. "Open consultations are being held on the possible division of the country into separate parts in violation of the Ukrainian constitution," read the statement. "This could lead to an escalation of conflict between different sectors of society, inciting ethnic or religious hatred and military conflict."

References

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