A lot of changes happened in the world in 2014. For some, they went unnoticed, others simply began to read news more often, for others, the world became a war.
A lot has changed for the Crimean population this year. “The Crimean Peninsula and the city of Sevastopol have become part of the Russian Federation,” - this will sound for many descendants the outcome of the 2014 referendum. It will be in 20, 30, maybe 40 years. And now some will say: “Crimea has returned home,” others will say: “Russia has occupied Crimea.”
Before you take a closer look at the events of the beginning of 2014 and understand what the Crimeans breathe after a year of joining Crimea to Russia, it is worth taking a short excursion into the past and learning how the history of the peninsula and Russia is connected.
Transition of Crimea under the authority of the Russian Empire
In July 1774, the war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire ended. As a result, a number of Black Sea cities withdrew to the victors, and they received the right to have merchant and warships in the Black Sea. An independent state appeared on the Crimean peninsula.
Already in 1774, it became clear that the accession of Crimea to Russia is, as they say, a matter of time. But he was no longer resolved by military means, but by political means.
With the help of Russia, Khan Shagin-Girey came to power in Crimea , and the previous ruler, with his supporters, was forced to flee to Turkey. The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1783 was secured by the manifesto of Empress Catherine II on April 8. Since then, the history of the peninsula has been inextricably linked with Russia.
A brief history of the Crimea from 1921 to 1954
After joining Russia in 1783, Crimea began to change dramatically, infrastructure and production developed, and the national composition of the population changed.
When the Bolsheviks came to power and the Civil War ended, the Crimean ASSR was created. At the beginning of the 20th century, the peninsula was inhabited by: Russians, who made up almost half of the population (49.6%), Crimean Tatars (19.4%), Ukrainians (13.7%), Jews (5.8%), Germans (4 , 5%) and other nationalities (7%).
During the Great Patriotic War, fierce battles were fought in Crimea, a long occupation unrecognizably changed the appearance of the peninsula and the character of its inhabitants. In the spring of 1944, the operation began to liberate the Crimea from invaders.
In 1944-1946, the Crimean Tatars were deported from the peninsula for supporting fascist Germany, the Crimean region was formed as part of Russia.
Crimea and Ukraine
In 1954, Crimea was included in the Ukrainian Republic. This was logical and dictated by close economic and cultural ties, as well as the unity of the territories. Many communications, railways and roads were connected with mainland Ukraine.
In 1989, the attitude of the Union government towards the Crimean Tatars changed and their return migration to the peninsula began.
In early 1991, the first referendum was held, as a result of which the Crimea again received autonomy rights as part of the Ukrainian SSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Crimea remained part of the now independent state of Ukraine. From 1994 to 2014, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea lasted. At the beginning of 2014, a new accession of Crimea to Russia took place.
How it all started
In November 2013, protests began in the Ukrainian capital . President V. Yanukovych has postponed the signing of an association agreement with the European Union. This was the reason for people to take to the streets.
The action, which began with a student rally, grew into a powerful movement. Tens of thousands of people organized a tent camp in the center of Kiev, began to occupy administrative buildings, burn tires.
Gradually, the peaceful rally turned into a tough confrontation between the demonstrators and the police. The first victims appeared on both sides. At the same time, actions against the existing government began in the western regions of Ukraine, their leaders in city and regional councils were appointed, and monuments of the Soviet regime were crumbling.
The coup in Ukraine
In February 2014, an action in Kiev, which became known as Euromaidan, reached its peak. Unknown snipers killed dozens of protesters and law enforcement officers. The opposition and the leaders of the protest movement made a coup, President Yanukovych and his family fled the country.
Pro-Western leaders came to power, aggressively opposed to Russians, Russia, and the Soviet Union. Illegal armed groups began to move from Kiev to the regions. In the south-east of the country , mass retaliatory actions against the new regime began.
Crimea: from demonstrations to referendum
The crisis of the Ukrainian government in February 2014 led Crimea to the need to determine its future fate. The adoption of a new government in Ukraine meant a break in the historical, cultural, and social ties between the peninsula and Russia. The forces that made the coup in Kiev explicitly hostilely and aggressively spoke out about the Russians, including those living in Crimea.
In Sevastopol, Simferopol, Kerch and other cities, protests began against the new government in Kiev, the oppression of the Russian language, imposing its history, the arrival of armed aggressive supporters of Euromaidan, the destruction of monuments of the Soviet era. However, it must be said that part of the Crimean population supported the leaders who came to power and, as a whole, an action in the center of the capital of Ukraine. Basically, agreement with the new government was expressed by the Crimean Tatars.
Protecting their values, culture, life and security, the residents of Crimea announced their desire to hold a referendum at which to determine the will of most citizens of the peninsula: to remain under the rule of Ukraine or to join Russia.
Preparation, implementation and results of the 2014 referendum
The date of the referendum on the fate of Crimea was set for May 25. While active preparations were underway on the peninsula, the question of the illegality of such a referendum was discussed in Ukraine, the USA, and European countries, and they spoke in advance of the non-recognition of its results.
Later, amid the growing crisis in Ukraine, the voting date was postponed to March 16. The people in Crimea showed great activity and turnout, which exceeded 80% of the population. Crimeans realized the fatefulness of the referendum. This was not the date of the annexation of Crimea to Russia, but now it is proposed to make the day on March 16 a festive day on the peninsula.
Already on March 17, the results were summed up. The population of Crimea voted to unite with Russia. And on March 21, a law was approved and signed, according to which the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia was officially held.
Russian military in Crimea
At the end of winter 2014, active movements of people in military uniforms were noticed on the Crimean peninsula. Politicians who illegally gained power in Kiev immediately accused Russia of military aggression. In turn, Russia denied the presence of its military contingent on the peninsula, except for based units in accordance with the agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Later, the military, who made the redeployment on the peninsula, began to be called "green men" and "polite people."
It must be said that Ukraine refused the leadership of the Autonomous Republic to create conditions for the will of the people. And, thanks to the presence of the Russian military contingent, which had the right to be on the peninsula, the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place peacefully.
Questions of legality of detachment of Crimea from Ukraine
Ukraine and its allies immediately announced the illegal actions of the government of Crimea and Russia. According to the leaders of many countries, the results of the referendum and the fact of its holding are illegal. The countries of the European Union and the United States did not recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia and continue to claim that the peninsula is under occupation.
At the same time, they supported an unconstitutional coup in Kiev, and, moreover, representatives of the United States and European countries met with activists of Euromaidan and even consulted its leaders.
The announcement of a referendum in Crimea was adopted by the legitimate government of the autonomous republic. The appearance at the polling stations showed the interest of the population in resolving the issue of further life of the peninsula in the context of the growing crisis in Ukraine and the world. An absolute majority, exceeding 90% of those who voted, supported the accession of Crimea to Russia.
International law implies the possibility of a people living in a certain territory to independently decide their fate. And the population of Crimea did it. The autonomy of the republic within Ukraine allowed the government to declare a referendum, and so it happened.
The first months after the referendum
The transition period is difficult for the inhabitants of the peninsula. The accession of Crimea to Russia in 2014 is undoubtedly the most important historical event in the life of the whole country. But what has become and will become the life of Crimeans in the near future?
In March-April 2014, enterprises and banks began to close on the peninsula, payments by cards and cash desks stopped. Ukrainian businessmen withdrew their assets.
Interruptions in water and electricity began, unemployment increased, and lines for re-issuing documents did not add joy to the everyday life of Crimeans. In April-May, the first wave of refugees from the south-east of Ukraine poured onto the peninsula, where an armed confrontation between the Kiev authorities and the militia of Lugansk and Donetsk regions began.
How, after a few months, local residents began to perceive the annexation of Crimea to Russia? Reviews were very different. Someone succumbed to anguish and panic due to the worsening economic situation. Others showed willingness to follow the chosen path through any obstacles. The life of the peninsula has changed and not in all areas for the better, but Crimeans live and enjoy the changes.
They have not yet changed their cell phone numbers, have not withdrawn the hryvnia from circulation, have not received new license plates for cars, but tricolor flags are already fluttering everywhere.
How Crimeans celebrated New 2015
The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014 added trouble and worries to the life of the indigenous population. For these concerns, someone did not notice the approach of the New Year. In cities, light and water are turning off more and more often, prices are rising just like traffic jams, they have not yet created new jobs, so many will meet the holidays modestly: no work - no money.
Soon, a year has passed since the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Opinions are still different. But here and there you can hear the call: "Do not whine, we will survive."
In 2015, the Crimeans are still waiting for a lot of changes, but they have already learned patience. The main thing that many of them note is calmness, which allows us to face the future without fear.
Russia after the annexation of Crimea
Many political scientists, economists, and entrepreneurs believe that joining Crimea to Russia is so expensive that it was cheaper to buy the peninsula from Ukraine. Sanctions, initiated by the United States, by the summer of 2014 began to be felt in the work of Russian enterprises. The financial system of the country was also destabilized.
Even large enterprises are forced to reduce the number of manufactured products, which is why workers are expected to fall, which means that unemployment will increase throughout the country.
The USA was supported by most EU countries. Sanctions are getting tougher, Russia is accused of occupying Crimea and actively helping militiamen in the South-East of Ukraine. Kiev authorities are constantly making statements about the presence of regular Russian troops on their sovereign territory.
Europe and the United States seek to isolate the Russian economy, bring down financial markets, make it play by its own rules. But the situation has not gotten out of control, the country has serious allies, the economy is starting to reorient to new markets.