DISINFO: Ukraine has been holding the water blockade of Crimea for revenge
SUMMARY
Seven years ago, Ukraine unilaterally blocked the North Crimean Canal and since then, has been holding the water blockade of Crimea, trying to take revenge on its residents for reunification with Russia. Having deprived the peninsula of the main source of water, Kyiv has committed a crime against 2.5 million Crimeans, which international organisations and advocates of "human rights" do not notice. Kyiv, with the approval of the West, itself grossly violates the basic right of the entire population of the peninsula to water, endangering its health and even lives.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets, trying to justify the 2014 illegal referendum in Crimea and accusing Ukraine of cutting off water supplies there in violation of human rights. In reality, the referendum was illegal because it violated the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 and the Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Treaty of 1997. The European Union and other leading democracies consider the annexation illegal and recognise Crimea as part of Ukraine. The United Nations adopted a resolution titled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine” on 27 March 2014, which said that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and that it could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula.
Ukraine is not obliged to supply water to Crimea, because this responsibility is borne by the occupier.
As the occupying power, Russia has the legal obligation, under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to ensure that the civilian population in Crimea has access to basic necessities such as food, drinking water, and medical services (see Part III, Section III). The Convention's applicability in the case of Crimea has been affirmed by the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Before the annexation, the Ukrainian peninsula had been receiving 85 per cent of its fresh water through a canal from the mainland. The peninsula has been suffering from drought and the population has been facing problems with drinking water supplies.
Read similar cases claiming that Kyiv's refusal to supply water to Crimea is tantamount to genocide, that Kyiv cuts off water as punishment for Crimea's legitimate return to Russia, and that Ukraine shows inhuman behaviour and its hatred towards Crimea.