DISINFO: Crimea became a part of Russia after a 2014 referendum
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: cz.sputniknews.com (archived)*
  • Date of publication: February 20, 2021
  • Outlet language(s): Czech
  • Reported in: Issue 235
  • Countries / regions discussed: Russia, Ukraine
Tags:
Crimea Referendum

DISINFO: Crimea became a part of Russia after a 2014 referendum

SUMMARY

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement about the alleged “annexation” of Crimea. However, Crimea became a Russian region after a 2014 referendum, in which over 95 % of voters (from both Crimea and Sevastopol) voted in favour of its reunification with the Russian Federation. The referendum took place after a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

The citizens of Crimea made this decision in a free referendum which was organised in order with the UN Charter and took place with the supervision of a big number of foreign observers. The Crimean question is solved.

RESPONSE

Crimea is not a part of the Russian Federation. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming the illegal annexation of Crimea was a 'result of a legal referendum'.

Crimea is a part of Ukraine and the Russian Federation has recognised this fact in several actions incl. by signing the 1997 Friendship Treaty with Ukraine.

After Russian forces took over Crimea in February 2014, an unrecognised referendum was organised on 16 March. It clearly violated both international law and the Ukrainian constitution since changes in the Ukrainian territory could have only been confirmed by a nationwide referendum.

Following the so-called referendum, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution titled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine” in which it condemned the Russian annexation of Crimea and called on states not to recognise it.

The European Union also supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and continues to condemn the illegal annexation.

For more comprehensive and similar debunking see here.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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