DISINFO: The coup d'état of Maidan caused a referendum that united Crimea with Russia
SUMMARY
Crimea was attached to Russia in 2014, following a referendum. The self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk are controlled by rebels from eastern Ukraine who refuse to recognise the authorities resulting from the coup d'état of Maidan.
RESPONSE
Recurrent narrative about 2014 events in Ukraine, the Euromaidan protests and the illegal annexation of Crimea.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea, not the UN, nor the EU.
Russian President Putin recognised on 17 April 2015 that "our soldiers were deployed in Crimea to help the inhabitants express their opinion." Putin admitted (proudly) that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.
Read also related stories : Crimea democratically joined Russia after the overthrow of Yanukovych , Russia's relations with the West deteriorated after Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum , Euromaidan coup led to Crimea referendum, civil war in Donbas