Crimea: the disputed region fueling tensions between Moscow and Kyiv

[webfact]

Crimea: the disputed region fueling tensions between Moscow and Kyiv

 

 

LONDON: -- A referendum held in March 2014 was Moscow’s justification for annexing Crimea in the aftermath of the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

 

At the time almost 60 percent of the two million inhabitants identified themselves as Russians and 96 percent of those who voted said they wanted the peninsula to cease being an autonomous region of Ukraine and instead be part of Russia.

 

Crimea’s strategic importance is that it extends into the Black Sea. From there Russia’s navy has quick access to the eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and Middle East from its base in the port city of Sevastopol on the southern shore.

 

Until 1954 Crimea was part of Soviet Russia, when the leadership under Ukrainian born Nikita Krushchev transferred it to the Ukrainian part of the Soviet Union by decree.

 

In 1992 following the collapse of the communist regime Crimea declared independence but decided to remain part of Ukraine, though with its own parliament and government based in Simferopol.

 

Moscow continued to base its Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol with as many as 11,000 sailors and 60 ships.

 

And in 2010, after years of tortuous negotiations, newly elected pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych agreed to extend the lease on the port until 2042 in exchange for cheaper Russian gas.

 

When Yanukovych was ousted by the Maidan revolution in February 2014 and replaced with a pro-Western government it sparked a political crisis in Crimea and soon pro-Russian separatists were on the streets.

 

Heavily armed troops with no identifying insignia on their uniforms seized government buildings, the main airport, and all means of communication.

 

Later it was admitted they were Russian, but at the time Moscow said only that it was putting its troops on alert to “protect their citizens” in the region.

 

On March 11 2014, there was an overt Russian military intervention and Crimea declared independence to be swiftly annexed by Russia. The accompanying referendum was denounced by Kyiv and the West as illegal.

 

Crimea’s annexation was followed by bloody fighting in the east of the country between the Ukrainian army and separatists supported by Russia. More than 9,500 people are known to have been killed.

 

The European Union and the United States responded to Moscow’s moves with economic sanctions against Russia and Crimea.

 

Long before the latest flare up – in January Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said securing Crimea’s return from Russian control was a priority along with regaining sovereignty over separatist-held areas in the country’s east this year.

 

With Ukraine’s military near Crimea and in eastern Ukraine on high alert, both sides accuse the other of escalating tensions.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-08-12

[craigt3365]

The referendum was a scam.  No international observers allowed.  So the results can not be verified.  Interesting article:

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation/#56a1979810ff

Quote

 

Yesterday, however, according to a major Ukrainian news site, TSN.ua, the website of the President of Russia’s Council on Civil Society and Human Rights (shortened to President’s Human Rights Council) posted a report that was quickly taken down as if it were toxic radioactive waste. According to this purported report about the March referendum to annex Crimea, the turnout of Crimean voters was only 30 percent. And of these, only half voted for the referendum–meaning only 15 percent of Crimean citizens voted for annexation.

 

The TSN report does not link to a copy of the cited report. However, there is a report of the Human Rights Council, entitled “Problems of Crimean Residents,” still up on the president-sovet.ru website, which discusses the Council’s estimates of the results of the March 16 referendum. Quoting from that report: “In Crimea, according to various indicators, 50-60% voted for unification with Russia with a voter turnout (yavka) of 30-50%.” This leads to a range of between 15 percent (50% x 30%) and 30 percent (60% x 50%) voting for annexation. The turnout in the Crimean district of Sevastopol, according to the Council, was higher: 50-80%.

 

 

It's the sovereign territory of Ukraine.  A national referendum is in order, not one for just a small part of the country.

[GOLDBUGGY]

Seems to me this is something that Ukraine and Russia should be able to easily work out without violence. It also seems to me they did in the past.

 

Russia has had a Navel Base there for a very long time, which they don't want to give up, as they don't have many on the Black Sea. Ukraine needs cheap gas to heat there homes in the winter time which Russia has plenty of. So the exchange seemed like a win win for both countries. 

 

I wonder why this changed so much and they scrapped this last deal they had in the past? Surely someone broke this deal off but who and why? 

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, GOLDBUGGY said:

Seems to me this is something that Ukraine and Russia should be able to easily work out without violence. It also seems to me they did in the past.

 

Russia has had a Navel Base there for a very long time, which they don't want to give up, as they don't have many on the Black Sea. Ukraine needs cheap gas to heat there homes in the winter time which Russia has plenty of. So the exchange seemed like a win win for both countries. 

 

I wonder why this changed so much and they scrapped this last deal they had in the past? Surely someone broke this deal off but who and why? 

 

NATO

[khundon]

Putin jerking off again.

[craigt3365]

10 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

NATO

BS.  Putin's PM puppet was tossed out of Ukraine and replaced by a pro-EU PM.  He didn't like it, so took over Crimea.  Something Russia has wanted to do for a long time.  Which was done illegally.

 

Amazing some suggest these activities are OK.  Luckily, a majority of the world doesn't agree.

[notmyself]

3 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

BS.  Putin's PM puppet was tossed out of Ukraine and replaced by a pro-EU PM.  He didn't like it, so took over Crimea.  Something Russia has wanted to do for a long time.  Which was done illegally.

 

Amazing some suggest these activities are OK.  Luckily, a majority of the world doesn't agree.

 

Yanukovych who was elected on a mandate for closer EU ties reneged on the deal and the people rose up. The so called 'Russian' people who lived there (Crimea) were servicing the long established naval base.  All that aside.... Putin stated that the area had always been Russian on account that some Saint had landed at that place and spread the word of the Gospel, resulting in the Russian church. His ultimate justification is based on the same level that the Moon landings were all faked really.... Saint whoever it was may have visited the area at some stage unknown.

 

Amazing indeed that some do not even think about it.

 

[RuamRudy]

54 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

BS.  Putin's PM puppet was tossed out of Ukraine and replaced by a pro-EU PM.  He didn't like it, so took over Crimea.  Something Russia has wanted to do for a long time.  Which was done illegally.

 

Amazing some suggest these activities are OK.  Luckily, a majority of the world doesn't agree.

 

I wasn't, in any way, trying to justify the Russian invasion but in the paranoid world of global politics the expansion of NATO and the EU onto the doorstep of Russia must surely be seen as provocation?

 

Also, if you were a quasi-dictator like Putin, would you miss an opportunity to further convince your countrymen that you were the only thing standing between 'freedom' and the invading West?

[Credo]

And if Putin would leave places like Ukraine and Crimea alone, then NATO would not be on his doorstep.   

 

NATO and the Western Alliances do not wish to take over Russia.   Russia, on the other hand, do seem to wish to take over other countries.   

 

Europe, even with all its current problems is much more attractive to the Eastern nations than Russia.   The ideological war has been won by the West.   Putin can only win by force and real war.

[craigt3365]

22 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

I wasn't, in any way, trying to justify the Russian invasion but in the paranoid world of global politics the expansion of NATO and the EU onto the doorstep of Russia must surely be seen as provocation?

 

Also, if you were a quasi-dictator like Putin, would you miss an opportunity to further convince your countrymen that you were the only thing standing between 'freedom' and the invading West?

I'm not paranoid.  But want blame to be placed properly.  This started with Russia.  Not with NATO or the EU.  No doubt all the organizations were offering all sorts of goodies to the various parties in Ukraine.  Putin more than others.  But Ukraine needs to decide what to do on their own.  And it shouldn't be at the end of a gun.  Which as you know, is what's happened there so far.

 

If Ukraine democratically votes to join the Russian Federation, great!  That's their choice.  Just like the Scottish referendum.

 

You're point about Putin is spot on.  Only he's a full dictator!