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The political status of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol is the subject of a political and territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia. On 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 a single united nation under the name of Republic of Crimea 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

Amidst rising tension in the region as part of the Crimean crisis, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol hosted a referendum to find out whether its people wanted to accede to the Russian Federation. The referendum took place on 11 March 2014 with 97% of voters choosing to leave Ukraine and join Russia. For this purpose, the Autonomous Republic and Sevastopol joined together as a single united nation under the name of Republic of Crimea. This nation then acceded to Russia where it was converted into a federal district under the name of Crimean Federal District. However, the accession divided the Autonomos Republic and the city of Sevastopol once again into two separate entities: the Autonomous Republic became the "Republic of Crimea" as a Russian federal subject while Sevastopol became a Russian federal city. Most of the confusion strives from the use of the name Republic of Crimea for two separate entities: (i) the partially recognized sovereign state that unilaterally declared independence from Ukraine under the name "Republic of Crimea" and (ii) the federal subject that was acceded to Russia as "Republic of Crimea" which is equivalent to the Autonomous Republic.

Regardless of all this, Ukraine and the vast majority of the international community has:

• not recognized the validity of the referendum,
• not recognized the merge of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into a single united nation under the name of "Republic of Crimea",
• not recognized the self-declared sovereignty of the "Republic of Crimea" as a country,
• not recognized the accession of this country into Russia as a federal district,
• not recognized the accession of the Autonomous Republic into the Russian Federation as a federal subject, and
• not recognized the accession of Sevastopol into the Russian Federation as a federal city.

Only Russia and five other nations have recognized all these events—namely Afghanistan, Belarus, Nicaragua, Syria, and Venezuela.

The lack of recognition from Ukraine and the international community is based primarily on the fact that 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 UN General Assembly eventually adopted a non-binding resolution considering the referendum as invalid and reaffirming 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

Russia recognized the short-lived Republic of Crimea as a country shortly before concluding the aforementioned treaty of accession, which was approved by the Constitutional Court of Russia.

Russia claims the Republic of Crimea (country) as a federal district, the Crimean Federal District, on the grounds of historical control of the area and the local population's right to self-determination.

International community

Six members of the United Nations have recognized the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to be federal subjects of Russia:

The following states have recognized the 2014 Crimean referendum.

State	UN member	Date	References
Russia	Yes	17 March 2014
Venezuela	Yes	17 March 2014
South Ossetia	No	17 March 2014
Abkhazia	No	17 March 2014
Kazakhstan	Yes	18 March 2014
Armenia	Yes	19 March 2014
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	No	19 March 2014
Kyrgyzstan	Yes	20 March 2014
Uganda	Yes	21 March 2014
Afghanistan	Yes	22 March 2014
North Korea	Yes	22 March 2014
Syria	Yes	22 March 2014
Belarus	Yes	23 March 2014
Cuba	Yes	27 March 2014
Bolivia	Yes	27 March 2014
Nicaragua	Yes	27 March 2014
Sudan	Yes	27 March 2014
Zimbabwe	Yes	27 March 2014

The vast majority of the international community, however, does not recognize the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia and instead consider them to be administrative divisions of Ukraine. Most nations located in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Central America, as well as some in Southeast Asia and Africa, have openly rejected the referendum and the accession. It is important to note, however, a number of nations from all the afformentioned regions have recognised the referendum. The remainder have largely remained neutral.

See also

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

Notes

References

1. ^ Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea’s entry to Russia. itar-tass.com. 21 March 2014
2. ^ Rosenberg, Matthew (23 March 2014) Breaking With the West, Afghan Leader Supports Russia’s Annexation of Crimea. New York Times
3. ^ Belarusian president: Crimea is de-facto part of Russia. rt.com. 23 March 2014
4. ^ Lukashenko: Crimea is part of Russia now. itar-tass.com. 23 March 2014
5. ^ "Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia". Kyiv Post. 27 March 2014.
6. "Mejlis to boycott Crimean referendum&". Ukrinform.ua. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
7. "Tatar leader: referendum's results 'predetermined'". DW.DE. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
8. 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.
9. U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid. Reuters. 27 March 2014.
10. Juan Valdes; Rosemary Wardley (5 March 2014). "300 Years of Embattled Crimea History in 6 Maps". National Geographic. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
11. Президент РФ подписал указ о признании независимости Крыма. Russian.rt.com. 17 March 2014.
12. ^ Afghanistan respects Crimea's right to self-determination – Karzai. rt.com. 22 March 2014
13. ^ UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal. Associated Press via Fox News. 27 March 2014
14. ^ "Sokhumi, Tskhinvali Recognize Crimea Vote". civil.ge. 17 March 2014.
15. Kazakhstan supported Russia on the ‘Crimean question’. qha.com.ua. 19 March 2014
16. Sarkisian Backs Crimean Referendum in Phone Call with Putin. asbarez.com. 19 March 2014
17. Karabakh Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Crimea. Asbarez.com. Retrieved on 23 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
21. Karzai: Afghanistan Endorses Crimean Right to Decide Their Future. tolonews.com. 23 March 2014

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Political status Sevastopol Republic of Crimea (Russia) Autonomous Republic of Crimea
History	Greek Crimea Crimea in the Roman era Cherson (theme) Bosporan Kingdom) Akatziri Khazars Crimean Goths Kipchaks Empire of Trebizond Genoese Crimea Genoese–Mongol Wars Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689 Crimean Khanate 1783 annexation by Russia Crimean War Soviet period Crimea in World War II 1944 Crimean Tatar deportation Renaming of Crimean toponyms 1954 transfer to Ukraine Crimean Tatar repatriation Autonomous Republic of Crimea President of Crimea (historical) 2003 Tuzla Island conflict 2014 status referendum 2014 annexation by Russia Supreme Council of Crimea (until 2014) (Chairman) Prime Minister of Crimea (until 2014) Council of Ministers (until 2014) Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
Geography	Arabat Spit Arabat Bay Azov Sea Black Sea Caves Marble Vyalova Crimean Mountains Kerch Strait Perekop Isthmus Pontic–Caspian steppe Southern Coast Syvash Subdivisions Cities Raions Urban-type settlements
Politics	Republic of Crimea/Autonomous Republic of Crimea Constitution Head State Council 2014 parliamentary election Sevastopol Legislative Assembly Governor 2017 election Black Sea Fleet Crimean Federal District
Economy	Tourism Crimean Bridge Crimean Trolleybus
Society	Sports Crimean Premier League Demographics Peoples Russians Ukrainians Crimean Tatars Armenians Karaites Pontic Greeks Krymchaks Crimea Germans Languages Crimean Tatar Krymchak Russian Ukrainian Religion Christianity Roman Catholicism Ukrainian Catholicism Judaism Islam
Category

• Diplomatic recognition
• 2014 Crimean crisis
• Politics of Crimea
• Secession in Ukraine