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Political status of Crimea

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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. Ukraine and the majority of the international community consider both Crimea and Sevastopol as administrative divisions of Ukraine, while Russia and several other countries 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

Further information: Crimean referendum, 2014 and Accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation

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 16 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 Autonomous 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.

Regardless of all this, Ukraine and the vast majority of the international community has not recognized the validity of the referendum, and has not recognized the accession of this country into Russia.

Only Russia and four other nations have recognized all these events—namely Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Syria, and Venezuela.[1][2][3]

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.[4][5]

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.[6][7]

Stances

Results of the United Nations General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
  In favor   Against   Abstentions   Absent

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.[8]

Others

  Countries recognizing results of 2014 Crimean referendum
  Crimea
See also: International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262

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

2

Position of  Belarus is vague: it includes "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.[9]


The following states have recognized the 2014 Crimean referendum.[failed verification]

State UN member Date References
 Russia Yes 17 March 2014 [10]
 Venezuela Yes 17 March 2014 [11][12]
 South Ossetia No 17 March 2014 [13]
 Abkhazia No 17 March 2014 [13]
 Kazakhstan Yes 18 March 2014 [14][11]
 Armenia Yes 19 March 2014 [15][11][12]
 Nagorno-Karabakh No 19 March 2014 [16]
 Kyrgyzstan Yes 20 March 2014 [17][11]
 Uganda Yes 21 March 2014 [18][19]
 Afghanistan Yes 22 March 2014 [11][20]
 North Korea Yes 22 March 2014 [11][12]
 Syria Yes 22 March 2014 [11][12]
 Belarus Yes 23 March 2014 [21][22][12]
 Cuba Yes 27 March 2014 [12]
 Bolivia Yes 27 March 2014 [12]
 Nicaragua Yes 27 March 2014 [12]
 Sudan Yes 27 March 2014 [12]
 Zimbabwe Yes 27 March 2014 [12]

The vast majority of the international community, however, has not recognized the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia. Most nations located in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Central America, as well as some[which?] in Southeast Asia[citation needed] and Africa, have openly rejected the referendum and the accession, and instead consider Crimea and Sevastopol to be administrative divisions of Ukraine. It is important to note, however, a number of nations from all the aforementioned regions have recognized the referendum. The remainder have largely remained neutral. The vote on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 (supporting the position that Crimea and Sevastopol remain part of Ukraine) was 100 to 11 in favor, 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 favor 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%.

Neutral positions

 Argentina had abstained from the United Nations General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine referring to some governments lack of coherence on similar questions.[23] President Cristina Fernández criticized what she called a double standard allowing the Falklands/Malvinas residents to hold a vote on their future, while condemning the Crimean referendum on union with Russia.[24][25]

 Israel, on April 13, 2014, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz suggests in an unconfirmed report that unnamed officials in Washington are not entirely satisfied with Israel's "neutrality" regarding Crimea's reunification with Russia. [26] A senior Israeli official said that Israel's absence from the United Nations General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine was viewed around the world as an extremely irregular measure, a departure from a long-standing Israeli policy of voting with the United States in the UN.[27]

 South Africa abstained from the United Nations General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine because it believes the crisis did not start with the Crimean referendum. Spokesperson Clayson Monyela told SABC News that the initiative fails to encourage dialogue and therefore viewed the vote as counterproductive.[28][29]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea’s entry to Russia. itar-tass.com. 21 March 2014
  2. ^ a b c d Rosenberg, Matthew (23 March 2014) Breaking With the West, Afghan Leader Supports Russia’s Annexation of Crimea. New York Times
  3. ^ a b "Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia". Kyiv Post. 27 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Mejlis to boycott Crimean referendum&". Ukrinform.ua. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Tatar leader: referendum's results 'predetermined'". DW.DE. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid. Reuters. 27 March 2014.
  8. ^ Juan Valdes; Rosemary Wardley (5 March 2014). "300 Years of Embattled Crimea History in 6 Maps". National Geographic. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  9. ^ President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko answers questions of mass media representatives on 23 March 2014. president.gov.by. 23 March 2014.
  10. ^ Президент РФ подписал указ о признании независимости Крыма. Russian.rt.com. 17 March 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Afghanistan respects Crimea's right to self-determination – Karzai. rt.com. 22 March 2014
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal. Associated Press via Fox News. 27 March 2014
  13. ^ a b "Sokhumi, Tskhinvali Recognize Crimea Vote". civil.ge. 17 March 2014.
  14. ^ Kazakhstan supported Russia on the ‘Crimean question’. qha.com.ua. 19 March 2014
  15. ^ Sarkisian Backs Crimean Referendum in Phone Call with Putin. asbarez.com. 19 March 2014
  16. ^ Karabakh Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Crimea. Asbarez.com. Retrieved on 23 March 2014.
  17. ^ Kyrgyzstan Recognizes Crimea Referendum Results. ria.ru. 20 March 2014.
  18. ^ Маргелов: лидеры африканских стран поддерживают позицию РФ по Крыму. ria.ru. 20 March 2014
  19. ^ Африка признаёт референдум // Метро.- № 35 (47/2965). 21 March 2014. p. 4
  20. ^ Karzai: Afghanistan Endorses Crimean Right to Decide Their Future. tolonews.com. 23 March 2014
  21. ^ Belarusian president: Crimea is de-facto part of Russia. rt.com. 23 March 2014
  22. ^ Lukashenko: Crimea is part of Russia now. itar-tass.com. 23 March 2014
  23. ^ https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2014/ga11493.doc.htm
  24. ^ http://en.mercopress.com/2014/03/18/malvinas-crimea-cristina-fernandez-blasts-uk-on-double-standard
  25. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/crimea-referendum-falklands-argentina-cristina-fernandez
  26. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.585333
  27. ^ http://friendfeed.com/mondoweiss-on-friendfeed/8f2883bc/u-officials-angry-israel-doesnt-back-stance-on
  28. ^ http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/fcb60c80436d360480699e6c62b42e10/SA-abstains-in-UN-vote-of-Crimea
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMN4IW8k0PQ
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