RUSSIA-CRIMEA ISSUE

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 RUSSIA-CRIMEA ISSUE

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• What is Crimea : It is a peninsular region on the coast of Ukraine, on the Black Sea coast, with a population of about 2.3 million people. 
• What's the crisis all about : Soviet Union (or the USSR) broke up into 15 independent states in 1991, two of which were states that are popularly known as Russia and Ukraine. Initially, the Crimean peninsula was a part of Ukraine, but enjoyed an 'autonomous' status within Ukraine (i.e. while it was a part of Ukrainian territory, it governed itself and was not subject to much control by the Ukrainian government). However, even despite its autonomous status within Ukraine, almost 60% of the Crimean population was native Russian, and identified more with Russia. A certain section of the Crimean government also wanted sovereignty (i.e. absolute independence from Ukraine to become an independent country). As a result, Crimea did attempt to declare independence in 1992 - only to meet opposition from the Ukrainian government, which prevented the declaration from being carried out. At the same time, even Russia had always claimed Crimea as a part of its territory, as mentioned above. 
• Summary  :

1. Crimea officially became a part of Ukraine following the break-up of the USSR, but a significant portion of the Crimean population was not content with this. 
2. Crimea enjoyed autonomous status within Ukraine. 
3. A section of the Crimean government wanted absolute independence as a state, and the legislature even declared independence in 1992 - but the independence move was crushed by Ukraine quickly. 
4. 60%+ population of Crimea was native Russian, and as a result - even Russia identified it as a part of Russia.

• Russia wants Crimea : Other than Crimea having a majority of Russian-natives, Russia and Crimea also have a historical connection. Crimea was a part of the Russian Empire (which existed prior to the Soviet Union), from 1783 to 1917. However, other than these ethnic and historical ties, many suggest that Russia also has several political and geopolitical reasons to want Crimea, and can benefit from having control over the peninsula. The primary geopolitical interest is perhaps to prevent the expansion of the US-led NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization - an American international alliance) into Ukraine and Crimea. 
• A revolution : In 2014, Ukraine underwent a revolution. Prior to the revolution, Ukraine's President was Viktor Yanukovych, who was pro-Russia. After the revolution, Yanukovych's government was removed (and Yanukovych exiled to Russia), and a new government (under Petro Poroshenko) assumed power. This new government was more nationalistic (towards Ukraine), and therefore "less" pro-Russia than the Yanukovych's government. As a result, Russia perhaps feared that this government may turn to the EU (European Union) and NATO, who might gain control over the Crimean peninsula - something that would not be in the Russian interest. 
• The problem :  The whole annexation process took place in a democratic manner (with a referendum) and that there's no apparent problem with it: but that's not the case. On March 27, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which declared the referendum (held in Crimea) invalid, and questioned the legitimacy of the referendum. As a result, to this day, only 11 UN Member States (10 + Russia) recognise Crimea as a part of Russia, with all the others not recognising it as a part of Russia - claiming that the referendum was illegitimate. Therefore, the entire Crimean issue stems out of this disagreement on who Crimea rightfully belongs to, and whether the referendum held in 2014 was valid and legitimate. 

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