By the end of 2013 and the start of 2014, both print and electronic media all over the world were talking about one major event which had taken place between few of the most influential nations today. A crisis which rocked Russia’s stock exchanges to shambles. A crisis involving protests, violence and corruption – The Kiev revolution and Crimean Crisis.
This basically refers to the international crisis, mainly involving Russia and Ukraine over the control of the Crimean peninsula which was earlier under the Ukrainian administration. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the EU as well as the United States had their fair share in this matter. This crisis was part of the aftermath of another big revolution, involving the same countries.
This revolution which began in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine was a reaction of the people to their ex-president Viktor Yanukovych’s actions. Ukraine, a country known for its historic dispute with Russia, has never had a really stable economy since the fall of the Soviet Union. This was because of corruption, less economic growth, economic mismanagement, currency devaluation and so forth. In order to better this, Yanukovych was to establish closer relations with the west, particularly the EU. One of these measures included the signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the EU according to which the latter would provide funding for various reforms; and the former break all economic ties with Russia. Even before considering it properly, Yanukovych refused to sign the agreement and instead signed a treaty with Russia.
This sparked off unrest between protestors and government administration officers. Yanukovych, who had a stronghold on mainly the Russian speaking areas of Ukraine, was disliked by many. Some also believe that he was not very concerned about Ukraine’s development. Other rumours also include that he was forced to do so because of being pressurized by Russia with respect to trade sanctions. When this revolution claimed the lives of many, Yanukovych was impeached by the new interim government. He fled the country on the same day.
As a consequence of this brutal revolution, the interim government signed the agreement with the EU after taking a loan from the IMF to fulfill the requirements of the agreement. Russia refused to accept this interim government and accused USA and the EU of funding the Kiev Revolution. Russia continues to believe that his impeachment was illegal.
On 26th February, pro-Russian forces started to take control of the Crimean peninsula. Sources say that former Ukrainian military members were involved in this. These troops took charge of the Crimean parliament building. This parliament voted to dismiss the current government and replace the Prime Minister. They also proposed to call a referendum on Crimea.
This basically refers to the international crisis, mainly involving Russia and Ukraine over the control of the Crimean peninsula which was earlier under the Ukrainian administration. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the EU as well as the United States had their fair share in this matter. This crisis was part of the aftermath of another big revolution, involving the same countries.
This revolution which began in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine was a reaction of the people to their ex-president Viktor Yanukovych’s actions. Ukraine, a country known for its historic dispute with Russia, has never had a really stable economy since the fall of the Soviet Union. This was because of corruption, less economic growth, economic mismanagement, currency devaluation and so forth. In order to better this, Yanukovych was to establish closer relations with the west, particularly the EU. One of these measures included the signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the EU according to which the latter would provide funding for various reforms; and the former break all economic ties with Russia. Even before considering it properly, Yanukovych refused to sign the agreement and instead signed a treaty with Russia.
This sparked off unrest between protestors and government administration officers. Yanukovych, who had a stronghold on mainly the Russian speaking areas of Ukraine, was disliked by many. Some also believe that he was not very concerned about Ukraine’s development. Other rumours also include that he was forced to do so because of being pressurized by Russia with respect to trade sanctions. When this revolution claimed the lives of many, Yanukovych was impeached by the new interim government. He fled the country on the same day.
As a consequence of this brutal revolution, the interim government signed the agreement with the EU after taking a loan from the IMF to fulfill the requirements of the agreement. Russia refused to accept this interim government and accused USA and the EU of funding the Kiev Revolution. Russia continues to believe that his impeachment was illegal.
On 26th February, pro-Russian forces started to take control of the Crimean peninsula. Sources say that former Ukrainian military members were involved in this. These troops took charge of the Crimean parliament building. This parliament voted to dismiss the current government and replace the Prime Minister. They also proposed to call a referendum on Crimea.
There have been various referendums passed in the past. The earliest is when it had autonomy within the Soviet federative Socialist republic. Then was the sovereignty referendum, under the Soviet Union. Then was a referendum passed on Crimea’s legal status as part of Ukraine. This was recognized by Russia. This agreement which recognized Crimea as a part of Ukraine was signed by USA, UK and France. This is when Crimea gained a new constitution, with lesser powers than the previous one.
After the Kiev revolution in 2013-2014, a referendum on whether to join Russia resulted in 96.77% affirmative vote. According to the last census, 58% of the population in the peninsula is Russians. This referendum was condemned by the EU, The USA and the Crimean Tatars (Original inhabitants of Crimea before the Soviets) on the basis that it violated the rules and laws in the Ukrainian Constitution.
On March 17, the Crimean Parliament declared it independent and asked to join the Russian Federation. The next day a treaty was signed to accept Crimea in the Russian Federation.
Since this day, there was a lot of activity in the political world. Internationally many countries imposed sanctions against Russia. The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that declared the referendum invalid and illegal. The USA imposed trade sanctions against Russia. The EU suspended its talks with Russia regarding economic matters and further imposed stringent sanctions. Japan discontinues all its talk with Russia relating to new technology and space research. The G8 countries, except Russia, have condemned such actions taken by the nation. Leaders such as Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor has warned the Putin government that it will cause a lot of political and economical damage to Russia if it does not change its decision.
However five countries including Russia have overtly shown their support - Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Syria. After Russia formally moved to accept Crimea, many countries in the west have been worried that it may enter Ukraine from another part and try to claim those regions too.
Ukrainian leaders accused Russia of interfering in internal matters, breaching their sovereignty. The government has declared the Russian occupation of Crimea a temporary military move to claim what is not theirs. The new Prime minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that all constitutional and legal methods will be used to preserve the territorial integrity of Crimea and Ukraine.
-Pratha
After the Kiev revolution in 2013-2014, a referendum on whether to join Russia resulted in 96.77% affirmative vote. According to the last census, 58% of the population in the peninsula is Russians. This referendum was condemned by the EU, The USA and the Crimean Tatars (Original inhabitants of Crimea before the Soviets) on the basis that it violated the rules and laws in the Ukrainian Constitution.
On March 17, the Crimean Parliament declared it independent and asked to join the Russian Federation. The next day a treaty was signed to accept Crimea in the Russian Federation.
Since this day, there was a lot of activity in the political world. Internationally many countries imposed sanctions against Russia. The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that declared the referendum invalid and illegal. The USA imposed trade sanctions against Russia. The EU suspended its talks with Russia regarding economic matters and further imposed stringent sanctions. Japan discontinues all its talk with Russia relating to new technology and space research. The G8 countries, except Russia, have condemned such actions taken by the nation. Leaders such as Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor has warned the Putin government that it will cause a lot of political and economical damage to Russia if it does not change its decision.
However five countries including Russia have overtly shown their support - Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Syria. After Russia formally moved to accept Crimea, many countries in the west have been worried that it may enter Ukraine from another part and try to claim those regions too.
Ukrainian leaders accused Russia of interfering in internal matters, breaching their sovereignty. The government has declared the Russian occupation of Crimea a temporary military move to claim what is not theirs. The new Prime minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that all constitutional and legal methods will be used to preserve the territorial integrity of Crimea and Ukraine.
-Pratha