DISINFO: Crimea left Ukraine as a result of a referendum after coup in Kyiv
SUMMARY
Crimea left Ukraine as a result of a referendum, which followed coup d’etat in Kyiv. The coup happened with the encouragement from the West. EU imposed sanctions for peaceful incorporation of Crimea into Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign against Ukraine, containing multiple disinformation narratives. Disinformation narrative about the annexation of Crimea claims that Crimea voted to rejoin Russia through a legal referendum. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014 and held on 16 March 2014. Following the covert invasion by “little green men,” the referendum in Crimea was conducted hastily and at gunpoint, barring impartial observers from entering the peninsula. The European Union does not recognise Crimea's annexation and continues to condemn it as a violation of international law. EU sanctions continue to be in place against Russia as a consequence of the annexation. For the EU statement on the sixth anniversary of Crimea annexation see here. The Euromaidan was not a coup attempt but a nationwide popular protest against the government's sudden announcement that it would not sign the EU Association Agreement.