DISINFO: Crimea was unified with Russia after a plebiscite, however most Western media incorrectly refer to it as an annexation
SUMMARY
In 2014, a law banned Russian language from the media and as a possible official language for the inhabitants of Crimea. So, the population rose up and decided to hold a referendum. The regional assembly of Simferopol officially decided it. This referendum was organised very quickly, some practical details are disputable because of how quick it was organised. But there was a very clear majority for the reunification of Crimea with Russia. So, the results were very clear and undisputable. In the European Parliament today, some members of the European Parliament do not know how to contest the result of this referendum which showed the manifest will of the people of Crimea. So, they are talking about respect for minorities. But if there are minorities, it means that there is a majority. A majority of the inhabitants of Crimea had chosen a very clear return to Russia. Besides, when you go to this Crimea, there is absolutely no problem visible. Some members of the European Parliament talk about “Russian occupation” but this is totally ridiculous. They would better go and see for they own eyes, that there is no such “occupation”. In the 1950s, Nikita Khrushchev, during an administrative trip attributed Crimea to the Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine. It was an administrative issue; besides that, Crimea has always been traditionally Russian and the inhabitants are now totally satisfied with this situation.
RESPONSE
Recurrent narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea Crimea is a part of Ukraine and was illegally annexed by Russia. The annexation has been condemned by the UNGA (see the resolution A/RES/68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine). No international body recognizes the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014 and held on 16 March 2014. A year after the illegal annexation, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum. 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. See the EU's statement on the sixth anniversary of Crimea annexation here.