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.

Disproof

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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publication/media

cz.sputniknews.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 235
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20/02/2021
  • Outlet language(s) Czech
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Crimea, Referendum
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Those who oppose the Union of Belarus and Russia, have no positive agenda except for "being with Europe." Europe has become bogged down in immorality of one-sex marriages and lost family values. The concepts of mother and father are replaced with "parent 1" and "parent 2" concepts. This Europe will die in the course of the next one and a half generations.

Humanity is moving towards a suicide, and only conservative forces can prevent it. The Russian civilisation is a manifestation of fairness and high culture. Russia needs to build the state of fairness, particularly as the Soviet period was such attempt. Russia can get back to this main strategic task, this is the only possibility to save humanity from sliding into the abyss.

Feb 19, 2021
Disproof

This publication is consistent with the pro-Kremlin narrative on the morally corrupt West aimed at portraying Russia as superior to the West in terms of values and morals.

It also promotes the concept of the Russian world / civilisation as the only possible savior of humanity. The Russian world is an imperial Russian and Russian irredentist ideology that is a favoured pro-Kremlin narrative aimed at weakening the national identity of Belarusians and Ukrainians, as well as their sovereignty.

Disinfo: The West fears Sputnik V might increase Russia’s authority in the world

The Russian vaccine Sputnik V is among the best ones. However, the West continues its efforts to discredit it because it fears Russia’s reputation and authority on the international scene would increase. And they do not want that.

Feb 19, 2021
Disproof

It is not true that the West would somehow be trying to discredit the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. On the contrary; a number of EU Member States are considering the Sputnik V vaccine and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been providing scientific advice to the producer and since 04 March is conducting a rolling review of Sputnik V.

It is a long-standing narrative in which the Kremlin attacks the European Union for allegedly discriminating against the Russian vaccine. Examples of other cases can be found here and here.

Disinfo: NATO's statements about the need to confront Russia are caused by the crisis within the West

NATO’s statements about the need to confront Russia are caused by the crisis within the West and, as a result, the search for an enemy.

The front facade (of the West) just collapsed, and we saw what was happening there – nothing was left of some kind of solidarity, no one really wants to help anyone, there is a terrible fuss and a fight with each other, for the division of money, vaccines, redistribution of resources among themselves … Economic problems, problems of migration, social rights, human rights – we saw all this in a bouquet. So they had to urgently use their beloved trick and find a new note of aggression in Russia to be able to say: “We don’t need to look at our Western problems, we need to look at Russia, restrain it even more because Russia is threatening us.”

Feb 19, 2021
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Western Russophobia and alleged anti-Russian projects in the West, an attempt to divert attention from the multiple violations of international law by Russia in recent years.

This message followed the statement of the NATO Secretary-General about the need to update the NATO Strategic Concept agreed back in 2010.