CRIMEA: In the 1950s, the population of Crimea — approximately 1.1 million — was roughly 75 percent ethnic Russian and 25 percent Ukrainian. A sizable populati

CRIMEA: In the 1950s, the population of Crimea — approximately 1.1 million — was roughly 75 percent ethnic Russian and 25 percent Ukrainian. A sizable population of Tatars had lived in Crimea for centuries until May 1944, when they were deported en masse by the Stalinist regime to barren sites in Central Asia, where they were compelled to live for more than four decades and were prohibited from returning to their homeland. 1954: Gifted by USSR heads, from Russian SSR to Ukrainian SSR (officially “to evince the boundless trust and love the Russian people feel towards the Ukrainian people”). People on the ground weren’t asked, but accepted it without violence and life moved on: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_Crimea_in_the_Soviet_Union https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_Crimea_in_the_So... 1991: 94% of voters in referendum wanted to be independent of Ukraine (no Russian troops present) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Crimean_sovereignty_referendum https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Crimean_sovereignty_ref... 1991: Later that year, Crimea takes place in a referendum for whether Ukraine should be independent of USSR and whether they should be part of that. Only 54% vote yes: 1992: Crimean parliament declares Republic of Crimea with self-government. Passes Constitution with conditional independence from Ukraine. Ukraine/Kyiv are incensed https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/06/world/crimea-parliament-votes-to-back-independence-from-ukraine.html https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/06/world/crimea-parliament-v... 1992: Later in December Ukraine created a Ukraine Presidential Representative in Crimea, kicking off a wave of protests there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Crimea_(1991%E2%80%932014) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Crimea_(1991%E2%80%... 1993: Crimean Parliament votes to elect its own President, which Kyiv denounces as unconstitutional. 1994: Popular referendum in Crimea once again strongly supports autonomy and independence from Ukraine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Crimean_referendum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Crimean_referendum 1994: The Crimean public popularly elect pro-Russian president Yuriy Meshkov. Crimean Parliament and President clash in a constitutional crisis and he disbands them. 1995: Ukrainian government intervenes in the crisis, removes Meshkov, and deports him to Russia. Kyiv appoints Anatoly Franchuk to run Crimea instead, rather than a popularly-elected leader. Crimean people and activists ultimately agree to Ukrainian sovereignty but force Kyiv to expand on the already extensive autonomous status of Crimea. 2006: Crimean Protests against NATO presence: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/world/americas/11iht-kiev.1947814.html https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/world/americas/11iht-kiev... 2014: March 11 the Republic of Crimea once again proclaimed its independence from Ukraine, citing the Kosovo precedent: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_independence_precedent https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_independence_preceden... 2014: On March 16 Crimeans headed to the polls for a referendum that presented only two choices - be part of Ukraine or rejoin Russia. OSCE refuses to observe a popular refendum in Crimea, so as to not give legitimacy to its outcome: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/12/osce-will-not-observe-illegal-crimea-referendum-a32885 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/12/osce-will-not-obse... The option to keep the status quo remain an independent Crimea was NOT included among the available choices in the referendum! A major problem for self-determination. Given the choices, Crimeans largely voted to be annexed by Russia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Crimean_status_referendum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Crimean_status_referendum