DISINFO: Crimea Platform gathered without Crimean representatives who chose to be Russian
SUMMARY
Funny people gathered to show, probably at the behest of the United States, some kind of political support for Zelenskyy, because there is no logic in this event... On the other hand, look at what these people are discussing. They discuss the future of Crimea without asking the residents of Crimea.
If a population does not want to live with those who actually established the Nazi regime, it will not do so. Through a referendum, through queues at the polling stations, they [Crimeans] chose the path with Russia... Everyone makes fun of Zelensky. One must be a complete moron in order to imagine in his right mind that at least one resident of Crimea wants to be in this chaos and with such allies as those who attended the event. This is of fundamental importance - people have made their choice. What is Democracy? This is the choice of people. Most consider themselves Russian people.
RESPONSE
The pro-Kremlin outlets mock the Crimea Platform, which is a summit of top officials from 46 countries and blocs, including from each of the 30 NATO members.
European Council President Charles Michel said during a speech at the first International Crimea Platform Summit, 23 August 2021:
"I am here to reaffirm the EU's unwavering stance: we do not and will not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia,"
The summit also included Mustafa Jemilev, former Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and a member of the Ukrainian Parliament since 1998. He was also commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Affairs of the Crimean Tatar People (2014-2019). He is the recognised leader of the Crimean Tatar National Movement and a former Soviet dissident.
The statements on the “de facto Nazis rule in Ukraine”, because of which Crimea’s residents allegedly took part in the referendum and chose to be Russians, is untrue. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
Today, not everyone in Crimea is "extremely happy" to be under the Russian administration. Though, expressing any dissatisfaction can be very risky: human rights violations in Crimea are serious and repeated recently said France. The UN continues to document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated by the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power, including deportations of protected persons, forced conscription, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
In 2015, president of Russia Vladimir Putin admitted Russian military presence in Crimea during the “referendum”.
Read similar cases claiming that historical Crimean Russian land returned, that over 95% of Crimea voted to be part of Russia, Crimea always was Russian, Crimean people have expressed their desire to rejoin Russia in a democratic process, and that Crimea never belonged to Ukraine.
See all the disinformation cases on Crimea.