11 years of Crimea's occupation: a look at how Russia seized control of the Ukrainian peninsula.
Today, February 20, marks the most tragic day of the Revolution of Dignity, as it marks the beginning of the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation. This date was later recorded in Ukrainian legislation as the "beginning of the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," reports UNN.
Details
In fact, the seizure of Crimea by the "little green men," as Russian propagandists referred to their unmarked soldiers, began in early February. On February 4, 2014, the leader of the Russian party "Rodina," Alexei Zhuravlev, arrived in Simferopol. He signed an agreement with the chairman of the "Russian Unity" party, Sergey Aksyonov, to establish the "Anti-Fascist Slavic Front" to counter the spread of the Maidan movement to the South and East.
In mid-February, Vladislav Surkov, an advisor to the President of the Russian Federation on occupied territories, arrived in Simferopol for meetings with the Crimean leadership.
Also read: "A crushing defeat for the aggressor": The ECHR announced its ruling on the case of Ukraine against Russia regarding Crimea
On February 24, the transfer of Russian special forces without identifying insignia to Crimea began. The following day, a pro-Russian rally demanding the separation of the peninsula from Ukraine took place outside the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
In response, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people called on all supporters of Ukraine's territorial integrity to gather outside the Crimean parliament.
On February 26, around ten thousand people gathered in the center of Simferopol to advocate for Crimea's retention within Ukraine. Due to the criminal inaction of law enforcement, provocations by pro-Russian forces led to clashes, resulting in two fatalities.
Also read: Over a thousand cases of persecution for resisting occupation recorded in Crimea since February 2022
The session of the Supreme Council of Crimea that was scheduled for this day to discuss the status of the peninsula was canceled. However, the next day, Russian special forces seized the building of the Crimean parliament. On February 28, the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, partially under the guns of Russian soldiers and partly on its own initiative, made the decision to hold a referendum on the status of the peninsula.
Also read: A resident of occupied Crimea was fined by a Russian court for "insulting" Putin and Aksyonov
On March 16, under the guns of the occupying state, an illegal referendum was held that contradicted the Constitution of Ukraine and fundamental norms of international law. In this way, the Russian Federation attempted to legitimize its attempt to annex the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.
On March 17, 2014, the already illegitimate Crimean parliament adopted a resolution "On the Independence of Crimea," which established a "state formation of the Republic of Crimea."
On March 18, 2014, a so-called "Agreement on the Admission of the Territory of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation" was signed between the Russian Federation, represented by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, and representatives of the occupying authorities - Sergey Aksyonov, Vladimir Konstantinov, and Alexey Chaly.
Also read: Occupiers stationed military equipment in a sanatorium in the Saksky district of Crimea - "ATESH"