Crimea

[Nemo1024]

Galdur, I found the fragment about the publications, or lack thereof, in national and international press interesting. It corroborates your earlier statement, where you said that at that time, it was perceived as a non-event in the Western public mind.

[galdur]

Galdur, I found the fragment about the publications, or lack thereof, in national and international press interesting. It corroborates your earlier statement, where you said that at that time, it was perceived as a non-event in the Western public mind.

This was in the seventies when we were discussing this in history class. Of course we assumed that the Soviet Union would be around for a very long time so it seemed like an unimportant arrangement within that state. Then when the S.U. fell apart I was wondering what would happen with the Sevastopol base, that the Russians seemed very unlikely to abandon because of its huge strategic importance, but figured that nothing would happen to that because of the very close ties between Russia and Ukraine. And then there was a 50-year treaty about the naval base if I remember correctly.

As things stand now I don´t know if there´s much future for the country of Ukraine in its present form. These people in power will never be able to unite people least of all after their behavior in the Donbass. I think it´ll continue spiraling out of control. Its western sponsors will give up on it and eventually be forced to bring in Russia to try to affect some solutions. It was total madness to create this mess to begin with and compounded madness to alienate the Russians. These people are probably crazy as christmas cakes. Their behavior on other fronts would certainly seem to indicate so.

[bryant.coleman]

Four Hizb ut-Tahrir / ISIS sympathizers of Crimean Tatar ethnicity have been arrested in an anti-terrorism drive by the Crimean authorities. Those detained include Emir-Usein Kuku, a famous Tatar activist.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/crimean-tatars-outraged-as-russia-charges-four-with-terrorism-116021200836_1.html

The The Ukrainian foreign ministry, meanwhile has condemned the arrests.  IMO, if they are so much concerned, then they should resettle all of these Tatars in Ternopol and Lviv.

[Nemo1024]

In her re-blog of my translation, Lada added some additional strokes to the image of Khrushchev and the roots of his anti-Stalinism, which played such a fateful role in USSR's history

Read "Lada’s Post Scriptum" at:

https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/2016/02/13/who-and-how-transferred-crimea-into-ukrainian-soviet-socialist-republic-in-1952-1954/

In the defense of those who made that decision it can be said that the transfer was made in the context of Ukraine being a forever integral part of the USSR, and an inseparable part of Russia. It never occurred to any of these men that in the year 1991 the USSR could simply fall apart.

However, the responsibility still lies with those who failed to take into account the future risks.

In the huge power vacuum that came to be after Stalin’s death, the power struggle between two factions began. Malenkov, who seems to be made responsible by the author of the article, was a clown — a transitional figure. No one really took him seriously and he didn’t wield real power. This was obviously before my time, but I recall my parents’ stories, who were in the know regarding the Soviet political spectrum. The transitional figure of Malenkov was necessary while the real power struggle took place behind the scenes. He was sidelined as soon as Ukrainian (Khrushchev’s) camp was able to get the upper hand over the Georgian (Beria’s) camp.

...

In his urge to undo everything that reminded him of Stalin, Khrushchev also eliminated the one thing that kept USSR fully independent of the Western financial system: Soviet gold standard – the alternative system that made USSR impenetrable to financial manipulation. It was for this reason that when the inflation hit the West, in the USSR prices continued going down, while the country was actually experiencing tremendous post-war boom!

Khrushchev agreed to trade internationally in dollars, which destroyed the carefully built system and eventually weakened the USSR’s global bargaining positions, leading to future loss of reputation, clout and eventual disintegration. That act by Khrushchev, together with the Central Committee of the Communist Party, continued later by Brezhnev (perhaps because he was ill-advised, or because it was simply too late to turn back), set the stage for the relentless takeover of the world by the dollar, and later, petrodollar. When the USSR simply surrendered its positions, there was no financial alternative or counterweight left. The result is the grave global imbalance we are observing today.

[Nemo1024]

Former Prime-Minister of Ukraine, Azarov, said that Ukraine will have to acknowledge loss of Crimea:
https://rns.online/economy/Eks-premer-Ukraini-azarov-uveren-v-neizbezhnosti-priznaniya-Zapadom-vhozhdeniya-Krima-v-sostav-RF-2016-02-17/

Poklonskaja says Crimean Tatars continue writing to her, asking for protection against the false leaders of Mjelis:
http://www.vz.ru/news/2016/2/16/794548.html

[Vika NSFW]

Иcтoчники cooбщaют o двyx вepcияx инцидeнтa. Booбщe-тo тaкиe ceкc-бycы идyт нa Mocквy пocтoяннo и бeз пpoблeм. Ho oб этoм кoнкpeтнoм peйce «cтyкaнyлa» кoнкypиpyющaя cyтeнepcкaя фиpмa. Увы, cтpaжaм пopядкa пpишлocь peaгиpoвaть.

Ecть втopoe пoяcнeниe нeyдaчнoгo вoяжa. Дeвки пo дopoгe выпили. И в пyнктe пpoпycкa «Гoптoвкa» нa глyпый вoпpoc пoгpaнцa «Цeль пoeздки?» oднa из кpacoтoк cлишкoм oткpoвeннo oтвeтилa «Eбa…cя!»
 

Ukrainian citizens love to make bus trips in Russian Federation.

[galdur]

Nemo, let me know if I have this right

Crimea became an autonomous republic within Ukraine when the latter became independent in 1991. In 1992 the Supreme Council of Russia (not sure if I have the exact name of that body right) decreed that the transfer of 1954 had been illegal. The government elected in Crimea promised in 1994  to return the peninsula to Russia, but the plan didn´t came to fruition. And in 1997 when Russia was totally bottoming in the Yeltsin mess the Russians  conceded that Crimea was part of Ukraine after all; however I´m not so sure that they actually included Sevastopol in that concession. It seems unlikely, given the naval base´s huge importance for Russian national security.

[Nemo1024]

[snip]
Ukrainian citizens love to make bus trips in Russian Federation.

Vika, I find this sort of glee disgraceful. Actually any kind of glee, whichever side it comes from.

[Nemo1024]

Nemo, let me know if I have this right

Crimea became an autonomous republic within Ukraine when the latter became independent in 1991. In 1992 the Supreme Council of Russia (not sure if I have the exact name of that body right) decreed that the transfer of 1954 had been illegal. The government elected in Crimea promised in 1994  to return the peninsula to Russia, but the plan didn´t came to fruition. And in 1997 when Russia was totally bottoming in the Yeltsin mess the Russians  conceded that Crimea was part of Ukraine after all; however I´m not so sure that they actually included Sevastopol in that concession. It seems unlikely, given the naval base´s huge importance for Russian national security.

Correct for the most part. Though it's the first time I hear of the Crimean government promising reunification with Russia - I don't see how they would be in any position to make such promises, especially taking the November 1993 events in Moscow - Yeltsin's coup d'etat and the massacre of the defenders of the Parliament - into account.

When it comes to Sevastopol, as far as I know, no written agreement was reached - Ukraine simply took it "by force". Sevastopol was not part of Crimea in any form - it was a "city of special Union importance" within USSR. When the Union fell apart, Russia was the legal heir of the Union, so Sevastopol should have become an enclave of the Russian Federation regardless of the status of Crimea.

The chronology of the 90s is interesting and important.

20th of January 1991 - referendum in the Crimean region of the Ukrainian SSR with the following wording "For recreation of Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as a subject of USSR and a member of the Union agreement." 93.26% voted "for". Participated 1441019 people.

12th of February 1991 - Ukrainian Rada passes the law "On recreation of Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic" and makes an amendment to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR. However, said law ignored the highlighted part of the referendum question regarding Crimea becoming a separate republic.

24th of August 1991 - Supreme Council of Ukrainian SSR passes an act on independence of Ukraine.

4th of September 1991 - Supreme Council of the Crimean Autonomous republic passes a declaration about sovereignty of the republic within Ukraine.

1st of December 1991 - Crimeans participate in the Ukrainian referendum on independence of Ukraine. 54% voted for. However the 3rd article of the Soviet Constitution "On the issue related to the exit of a union republic from the USSR" was violated. According to that article, a separate Crimean referendum should have been held, with the question of Crimea remaining as part of USSR or as part of Ukraine.

5th of May 1992 - Supreme Council of Crimea passes "The act of proclamation of state independence of the Republic of Crimea". At the same time Russian Parliament voted for invalidation of the 1954 decision regarding transfer of Crimea into Ukrainian SSR.

6th of May 1992 - Supreme Council of Crimea passes the Crimean Constitution, which contradicts the Ukrainian Constitution. The post of the President of Crimea is also established. (This Crimean Constitution and the post of President were cancelled by Ukrainian Rada only on the 17th of March 1995.)

5th of December 1994 - Budapest memorandum, when Ukraine forfeited nuclear weapons, while the guarantor countries agreed to respect territorial integrity of Ukraine - de facto Russia forfeited claims on Crimea. However, the Budapest memorandum was not ratified by any of the parties and is thus not legally binding.

21st of October 1998 - A new Constitution of Crimea is passed. Pro-Russian sentiment in Crimea starts growing.

Galdur, I'll do some research into the 1994 promise that you allege to...

[galdur]

Very interesting. Well, it´ll all probably be moot points in due course. Russia will never return Crimea come hell or high water, or so I believe. The western powers will resign to this as will Ukraine, it´ll take time. The sanctions haven´t worked and they won´t work so they´re useless. And they´re very harmful for Europe. The more time that passes the more the public in western countries will wonder how alleged violations of international law can´t be brought before a court of justice, why law has to be enforced by sanctions and threats and violence. So there´ll be pressure on politicians.

[Nemo1024]

Avakov, organiser of the Nazi punisher battalions and currently the interior minister of Ukraine, said in a televised interview to Poroshenko's TV channel 1+1, that Ukraine is preparing NG battalions for armed invasion into and occupation of Crimea:
https://rns.online/military/Glava-MVD-Ukraini-zayavil-o-podgotovke-silovih-struktur-dlya-vozvrascheniya-Krima-2016-02-26/

Looks like more populism from the defunct former Ukraine.


Russian parliamentarian sent a request to the Prosecutor General Chaika to investigate TripAdvisor with regard to them publishing maps with Crimea in Ukraine:

http://www.vz.ru/news/2016/2/26/796457.html

[galdur]

Well, I think they´re going to need more than battalions to invade the Crimea through the Perekop Isthmus. It´s eminently defensible.

[bryant.coleman]

Very interesting. Well, it´ll all probably be moot points in due course. Russia will never return Crimea come hell or high water, or so I believe. The western powers will resign to this as will Ukraine, it´ll take time. The sanctions haven´t worked and they won´t work so they´re useless. And they´re very harmful for Europe. The more time that passes the more the public in western countries will wonder how alleged violations of international law can´t be brought before a court of justice, why law has to be enforced by sanctions and threats and violence. So there´ll be pressure on politicians.

Forget about Crimea. Some of the Ukrainian right-wing politicians are arguing that the rebel-controlled areas of Donbass (LNR / DNR) should never be allowed back in to Ukraine.

http://www.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/op-ed/alexander-j-motyl-why-reintegrating-the-donbas-is-suicide-for-ukraine-408879.html
http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/alexander-j-motyl/why-reintegrating-donbas-suicide-ukraine

Actually this is the most logical thing to do. The Donbass residents don't want anything to do with Ukraine. If the Kiev junta continues to occupy Donbass, then the war will go on for ever.

[Vika NSFW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SagmV-ERtUs

Crimea is Yours.

[Vika NSFW]

Kiev student card with no Crimea on it.
http://lifenews.ru/news/187749

[Nemo1024]

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Crimean Republic, Ruslan Balbek, said that they have verified information that Turkish military instructors are dislocated in Kherson oblast and that they are preparing mercenaries for warfare in both open landscape and in urban conditions:

http://lenta.ru/news/2016/03/05/crimea/

[Vika NSFW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzaux12SYak

[galdur]

Drunk as a skunk. 

[Nemo1024]

Some good news from Crimea. When the republic reunified with Russia, one of the programs that was set into motion was revival of its health sector. 17 hospital buildings needed a major overhaul, as they never been revamp since they were built about 50 years ago. New X-Ray and tomography machines were installed, and the ambulance service was overhauled. The health sector of Crimea starts to get into a civilised state now.

[Nemo1024]

As people of Crimea, Sevastopol and the rest of Russia are celebrating the second anniversary of their reunification, Mogerini - the US Manchurian Candidate within EU and a bitter crone in her own right - is urging UN(!) to impose "moar sanctionz" on Russia - for Russia's lifting of the 60-year-long occupation of Crimea by Ukraine, where over the last 24 years the Crimeans were meat with especially vicious Ukrainisation attempts, while the weeks before the secession they were murdered and tortured by Ukro-Nazis, who came to Crimea to, as they were defining it, "teach Crimeans how to love Ukraine".

http://www.aif.ru/politics/world/es_prizval_strany_oon_prisoedinitsya_k_sankciyam_protiv_rossii

Seeing Mogerini's attempts is quite comical, when the countries within EU (including Mogerini's homeland - Italia) are crying for abolition of the sanctions, which are severely hurting EU, while helping Russia promote its own agriculture.

Meanwhile, here are some photo's from the celebration of the anniversary:

http://www.krym.aif.ru/society/dva_goda_v_rossii_kak_v_krymu_otmechayut_vtoruyu_godovshchinu_referenduma