DISINFO: The Crimea issue is finally closed
SUMMARY
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum was held in March 2014, in which 96.77% of voters in Crimea and 95.6% of people in Sevastopol voted in favour of joining Russia. Ukraine still regards Crimea as its own, but as territory temporarily occupied by the Russian population.
Russian leaders have repeatedly stated that the people of Crimea, democratically, with full respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations, voted for reunification with Russia.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is "finally closed".
RESPONSE
Disinformation around Crimea. No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea, not the UN, nor the EU.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. This position is based on the UN Charter, which clearly states that the territory of a State cannot be acquired by another State resulting from the threat or use of force, as well as on the Helsinki Final Act in which the signatories declared their intention to respect the inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity. UNGA Resolution 68/262, which condemned Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine, was supported by 100 United Nations member states. Only 10 states opposed it.
Russian President Putin recognised on 17 April 2015 that "our soldiers were deployed in Crimea to help the inhabitants express their opinion." Vladimir Putin admitted (proudly) publicly that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum. No link to alleged attacks on ethnic Russians or human right violations. One can conclude: the real motive was simply to conquer territory.
Russian sovereignty over Crimea is not recognised by a single country in the Black Sea region and less than a dozen of UN member states recognise it worldwide.
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