DISINFO: Crimea and four other regions voted to join Russia
SUMMARY
Crimea has been part of Russia since a referendum in 2014, in which its inhabitants voted overwhelmingly to join Russia following the Maidan coup in Kyiv. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that he intends to take control of Crimea, along with the four former regions of Ukraine that also recently voted to join the Russian Federation.
RESPONSE
Recurring Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming there was a coup that displaced the Ukrainian government in 2014, as well as the illegal annexation of Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions via sham referendums.
In 2014, there was no coup, nor a western orchestrated protest in Ukraine.
The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with the former President Yanukovych. After seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU due to Russian pressure. The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, the formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence. Russia invaded the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and illegally annexed it via a sham referendum.
Additionally Russia has held illegal referendums on four occupied oblasts of Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson) on September 23-26, 2022. In each case, Russia does not fully control the territories where so-called referendums are taking place. As stated EU High Representative Josep Borrell:
“The European Union strongly condemns these planned illegal “referenda” which go against the legal and democratically elected Ukrainian authorities, are in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in blatant breach of international law. The results of such actions will be null and void and would not be recognised by the EU and its Member States.
Since the start of the invasion Russia has intimidated, illegally detained, tortured and abducted Ukrainian citizens and a significant part of the original population in the invaded areas has been forced to flee. Legally elected local officials have, in some cases, been forcibly replaced. Access to the internet, free and independent media and freedom of expression have also been greatly restricted.
Therefore, these illegal “votes” cannot be considered under any circumstance as the free expression of the will of the people living in these regions under constant Russian military threat and intimidation".
These parodies of democracy were also condemned by NATO, G7, US, as well as Russia’ partners like Serbia and Kazakhstan (a member of CIS and CSTO), which also mentioned that they will not recognise their results.
See also a similar disinformation claims alleging that Kherson residents want to join Russia in a referendum.