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Political status of Crimea

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The political status of Crimea is the subject of a political and territorial dispute between Ukraine, that since its independence and until its last revolution possessed the peninsula, and Russia, that controls Crimea since the 2014 Crimean crisis. The Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council declared independence in March 11 and acceded to Russia in March 18. Since March 21, 2014 Russia claims Crimea as a part of its territory. As of March 24, few UN states (except Russia itself) officially recognized the transfer of sovereignty over Crimea to Russia: these are Kazakhstan,[1] Kyrgyzstan,[2] and possibly others. Leaders and top officials of several other UN states made announcements supportive to Russia, but the reaction of the international community to Crimea's incorporation to Russia is overwhelmingly negative.

Location of the Crimea (green) in Europe

History

Further information: History of Crimea, 1954 transfer of Crimea, and Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Formerly annexed by the Russian Empire, Crimea was reoccupied by the Soviet Russia in 1921 and was granted the status of autonomous republic. After the World War II in 1945 the Soviet authorities deported the indigenous population of Crimean Tatars and the autonomous status of the region was stripped. In 1954, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union transferred the region to Ukraine. Ukraine restored Crimea's autonomous status in 1991 and allowed all Crimean Tatars to return. Crimea's autonomous status was further reiterated in 1996 with the ratification of Ukraine's current constitution, which declared Crimea to be the "Autonomous Republic of Crimea", but also an "inseparable constituent part of Ukraine."[3]

2014 development

Further information: 2014 Ukrainian revolution and 2014 Crimean crisis
Republic of Crimea
Республика Крым
Къырым Джумхуриети
Республіка Крим
2014–2014
Motto: "Процветание в единстве" (Russian)
Protsvetanie v yedinstve  (transliteration)
"Prosperity in unity"
Anthem: "Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина" (Russian)
Nivy i gory tvoi volshebny, Rodina  (transliteration)
Your fields and mountains are magical, Motherland
CapitalSimferopol
44°57′N 34°06′E / 44.950°N 34.100°E / 44.950; 34.100
Common languages
GovernmentRepublic[4]
LegislatureCrimean Parliament
History 
11 March 2014
16 March 2014
17 March 2014[5][6]
17 March 2014
18 March 2014[7]
• Ratification
21 March 2014
Area
Total26,100 km2 (10,100 sq mi)
200726,100 km2 (10,100 sq mi)
Population
• 2007
2,352,385
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Sevastopol#After_the_Soviet_collapse
Republic of Crimea
Sevastopol

On March 11, 2014, amidst the 2014 Crimean crisis, the Crimean parliament and the Sevastopol City Council issued a letter of intent to unilaterally declare independence from Ukraine.[4] The document specifically mentioned Kosovo as a precedent in the lead part.[4]

The declaration was done in an attempt to legitimize a referendum on the status of Crimea where citizens were to vote on whether Crimea should apply to join Russia as a federal subject of the Russian Federation, or remain part of Ukraine. On March 16, 2014, a large majority (reported as 95% of those who voted) voted in favour of independence of Crimea from Ukraine and joining Russia as a federal subject.[8][9] The BBC reported that most of the Crimean Tatars that they interviewed were boycotting the vote.[8] Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov stated that 40% of Crimean Tatars took part in the referendum, and according to Russian state media, polling data showed a majority of Tatars in Sevastopol voted to join Russia, with a turnout of over 50% in the city.[10]

After the referendum, Crimean lawmakers formally voted both to secede from Ukraine and ask for membership in the Russian Federation. Thus, the independent Republic of Crimea existed for a little more than a day. The Sevastopol City Council, however, requested the port's separate admission as a federal city.[11]

On March 18, 2014, Russia and Crimea signed a treaty of accession, following which the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol were created in the Russian Federation following President Putin’s address to the Parliament. On March 21, 2014 the Russian Federation Council ratified the accession treaty,[12] and President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty into effect that same day, with the accession backdated to March 18.[13] During the transition period which will last till January 1, 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.”[14]

Position of 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.

Position of 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.

Views by the international community

Main article: International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis
See also: International recognition of the Republic of Crimea

The European Union, Japan and the United States instantly condemned the independence referendum as illegal.[8][15]

UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution condemning the 2014 Crimean referendum.
  Voted in favor of resolution
  Abstained
  Vetoed resolution

On March 1, while members of the UN Security Council were meeting in an emergency closed-door session, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a statement saying that the Secretary General was "gravely concerned about the deterioration of the situation" in Ukraine and planned to speak shortly with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ban's statement called for "full respect for and preservation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and demanded "immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned."[16] The Security Council itself expressed support for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The Council agreed that it was important that all political actors in Ukraine exercise maximum restraint and called for an inclusive dialogue recognizing the diversity of the Ukrainian society.[17] On March 15 the Security Council voted 13–1, with one abstention to condemn the proposed Crimean referendum. The sole negative vote was cast by Russia - the motion failed, as Russia is a permanent member of the Council with veto power.[18] Countries of NATO and European Union generally support the position of United States, U.K., and France.

The Russian position got explicit support from Kazakhstan,[1] Kyrgyzstan,[2] Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan,[19] President of Uganda,[20] President of Afghanistan,[21][22] as well as from partially recognized states of South Ossetia,[23] Abkhazia,[23] and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,[24] and president of the Republika Srpska, a sub-national entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, an internationally-recognized country. Declarations supportive to Russia were also made by senior officials of Cuba, Venezuela, and Mongolia.

On March 23, 2014, Belarus recognized Crimea as de facto part of Russia.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kazakhstan supported Russia on the ‘Crimean question’. qha.com.ua. 19 March 2014
  2. ^ a b Kyrgyzstan Recognizes Crimea Referendum Results. ria.ru. 20 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Constitution of Ukraine, 1996". Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Парламент Крыма принял Декларацию о независимости АРК и г. Севастополя". Государственный Совет Республики Крым. March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  5. ^ Marie-Louise Gumuchian (March 17, 2014). "Crimea votes to break from Ukraine, join Russia. What happens next?". CNN. Retrieved March 17, 2014. On Monday, lawmakers in Crimea approved a resolution that declared the Black Sea peninsula an independent, sovereign state. They then filed an appeal to join the Russian Federation.
  6. ^ "Crimea votes to join Russian Federation: 96.77% say YES". RT. Crimea was declared an independent sovereign state, the Republic of Crimea, on Monday, the autonomous Ukrainian regional parliament's website stated. The Supreme Council of Crimea unanimously voted to integrate of the region into Russia.
  7. ^ "Putin signs laws on reunification of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia". ITAR-TASS. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c BBC News - Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'
  9. ^ Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine for Russia | Reuters
  10. ^ "About 40% of Crimean Tatars take part in Crimean referendum – Prime Minister". ITAR-TASS. March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Lawmakers in Crimea Move Swiftly to Split From Ukraine". The New York Times. March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea's entry to Russia". ITAR TASS. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "Putin signs laws on reunification of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia". ITAR TASS. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "Treaty to accept Crimea, Sevastopol to Russian Federation signed". Russia Today. March 18, 2014.
  15. ^ Japan does not recognise Crimea vote - govt spokesman | Reuters
  16. ^ "UN chief Ban Ki-moon 'gravely concerned' over Ukraine events". Times Internet Limited. Associated Press. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  17. ^ "UN Security Council holds urgent meeting to review Situation in Crimea Ukraine". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  18. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26595776
  19. ^ Sarkisian Backs Crimean Referendum in Phone Call with Putin. asbarez.com. 19 March 2014
  20. ^ Маргелов: лидеры африканских стран поддерживают позицию РФ по Крыму. ria.ru. 20 March 2014
  21. ^ Afghanistan respects Crimea's right to self-determination – Karzai. rt.com. 22 March 2014
  22. ^ Karzai: Afghanistan Endorses Crimean Right to Decide Their Future. tolonews.com. 23 March 2014
  23. ^ a b "Sokhumi, Tskhinvali Recognize Crimea Vote". civil.ge. March 17, 2014.
  24. ^ Karabakh Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Crimea. Asbarez.com. Retrieved on 23 March 2014.
  25. ^ "Belarusian president: Crimea is de-facto part of Russia". Russia Today. March 23, 2014.

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