By Jeremy Vongsana
2014 Ukraine Maidan protests ousts Pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych
Crimean militia occupy Crimea
Russian Annexation referendum is held in Crimea
March 21, 2014 Russia officially annexes Crimea.
Context
Arguments Against
Some argue that the annexation is not justified due to how Russia did not speak with the UN about the annexation.
Arguments For Annexation
Russia shares cultural connections with Crimea due to how the majority of Crimean identify as ethnically Russian.
Russia needs to annex Crimea in order to defend itself from NATO aggression.
Russia has strong historical ties with Crimea.
Russian Annexation is Justified
Despite not speaking with the United Nations nor discussing with other countries about the annexation, the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is justified as Russia shares cultural and historical ties with the Crimean Peninsula; the annexation is also a justified response to the aggression and growth of NATO, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Defense Against NATO Aggression
Russia is resentful towards NATO due to
Broken promises.
Alienation after fall of USSR.
Large amount of military intervention around the world.
Aggressive attitude towards Russia despite being a defensive organization
For these reasons, Russia has a right to annex Crimea in order to protect itself from NATO influence.
Broken Promises
NATO promised the Soviet Union that if they “…allowed German reunification and membership in NATO…” (Bradley), the organization will not expand membership to countries “… one inch to the east [of Germany].” (Bradley)
This promise had been repeatedly broken by America as NATO membership has been expanded to countries past East Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union.
NATO has no reason to expand membership after the fall of the Soviet Union as the threat of communism doesn’t exist anymore.
Membership had expanded into countries such as…
East Germany
1990
Poland
1999
Baltic States
2004
Romania
2004
Bulgaria
2004
Croatia
2009
Slovenia
2004
Czech Rep.
1990
Slovakia
2004
Hungary
1999
Albania
2009
Further NATO Expansion
New Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, wants to join the European Union and possibly NATO.
Ukraine joining NATO would lead to Russia losing the Naval base in Crimea as the new Ukrainian administration are less likely to deal with Russia.
Therefore Russia needs to annex Crimea in order to defend itself from NATO hostility.
Strong Cultural Connections
One justification for the annexation of Crimea is that Russia has strong cultural connections with Crimea as most people in Crimea identify themselves as ethnically Russian.
From a Crimean census taken in 2001 there are approximately…1,180,400 Russians
492,200 Ukrainians
243,400 Tartars
Long Historical Ties Between Crimea and Russia
Crimea has been under Russian rule for much longer time than the length of time Crimea was under Ukrainian Rule
Crimea Under Russian Rule
Crimea had been under Russian control between the years 1783 – 1917.
After the fall of the Tsarist regime in 1917, Crimea continued to be within the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic until the 1950s.
Crimea was transferred from the
Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR
in the 1950s by Soviet Premier
Nikita Khrushchev as a gift of
friendship.
Ukraine only possessed Crimea for 61 years while Russia controlled Crimea for 136 years!
Therefore, Russia is justified in the annexation of Crimea due to Russia’s longstanding historical claims in the region.
Counterargument
The Crimean “militia” bear strong similarities with soldiers from the Russian military.
Crimean “Militia”
Gear
Russian Military
AK-74M
PKM
Gorka Suit
Later on, Russian president Vladimir Putin admits sending Russian special forces disguised as militia to Crimea.
He claimed that….
“In order to block and disarm 20,000 well-armed men, you need a specific set of personnel. We needed specialists who know how to do it.”
Rebuttal
However, the annexation is still justified as Putin needed to occupy Crimea to prevent further escalation and violence within Crimean Peninsula.
Sources
Bradley, Bill. “A Diplomatic Mystery.” (Bradley)
Derzhavna Sluzhba Statystyki Ukrainy (Ukraine Public Service Statistics). “About Number and Composition Population of AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA.” (Ukrainian Statistics)
BBC News “Pro-Moscow Yanukovych ‘to Win Ukraine Election'” (BBC 01)
Yesilot, Okan. “The Crimean crisis in the context of New Russian geopolitics.” (Yesilot)
BBC News “Crimea ‘votes for Russia Union'” (BBC 02)
Korolkov, Aleksandr. “Crimea: Nikita Khrushchev’s ‘gift on a Golden Dish’.” (Korolkov)
Wikimedia Commons “History of NATO Enlargement.” (NATO Map)
Wikimedia Commons “Second round (winners by County).” (Ukr 2003 Elections)
BBC News “Pro-Moscow Yanukovych ‘to Win Ukraine Election'” (BBC 03)
“United Nations Security Council.” United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fen%2Fsc%2Fmembers%2F>. (UN SEC)
Kutsch, Tom. “Timeline: A Recent History of US Interventions” (Kutsch)
Allison, Roy. “Russia, the West, and Military Intervention.” (Allison)
Conclusion
Russia has a right to annex Crimea due to strong cultural connections, longstanding historical claims, and as a defense against NATO influence.
