Disinfo: Russia is not an aggressor in case of Crimea

Summary

Russia is not an aggressor in case of Crimea, because 96 percent of Crimeans voted for joining Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. No international body has recognised the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government." On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea. The EU's policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol includes a set of restrictive measures against entities and individuals responsible for actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity. In March 2019 on the fifth anniversary of Crimea's annexation, the EU reiterated its position of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. EU continues to stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Pervyi Kanal (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 176
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 03/12/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Ukraine, illegal annexation, Manipulated elections/referendum, Crimea
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Disinfo: International Tribunal will consider Ukrainian provocation in the Kerch Strait

The Ukrainian provocation in the Kerch Strait in 2018 will be considered at an international tribunal. The initiator of this was the representation of Crimea in Brussels.

Dec 02, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that Ukrainian ships aggressively violated Russian borders in 2018 and thatit was a provocation of the fifth president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. There is no official representation of annexed Crimea in Brussels. The Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine emphasised that the organisation is self-proclaimed and that the EU is not going to cooperate with accomplices of the occupying authorities of the Ukrainian peninsula. "The European Union fully supports the independence of Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore, our position on such news is very clear: we will never recognise the self-proclaimed representations, institutions or the power of the annexed Crimea. We have no desire to cooperate with them, in any way or in any format," said David Stulik, press officer of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. Also, there are no other formal legal proceedings between Ukraine and Russia other than the case in the UN International Court of the Law of the Sea. At ameeting in Hamburg on 25 May 2019, the UN Court ordered Russia toimmediately release 24 captured Ukrainian sailors, as well as return the Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany-Kapu warships to Ukraine.

Disinfo: Europe is losing its values and former power

There were times when European countries were developing very quickly, both economically and culturally, but now Europe is losing its values and former power.

Dec 02, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative undermining the EU, claiming that the EU is fundamentally broken and disintegrating - also consistent with the narrative of the EU's imminent collapse. No evidence is given to support the claim that Europe is losing its values and former power. The European Parliament’s Spring 2019 Eurobarometer, measuring public attitudes to the EU three months ahead of the European elections, reveals that despite the various internal and external challenges to the EU of the past years, the European sense of togetherness does not seem to have weakened. Continued support for EU membership goes with a strong belief (68%) that EU countries overall have benefited from being part of the EU - equalling the highest level recorded since 1983. In addition, 61% of respondents say their country’s EU membership is a good thing.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the European Union expanded 1.30 percent in the third quarter of 2019 compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

Disinfo: Crimea and Sevastopol are irreversibly Russian

Crimea became part of Russia again after the March 2014 referendum, with 96.77 percent of voters in the Republic of Crimea and 95.6 percent of Sevastopol’s people voting in favour of joining Russia. This was after the overthrow of the regime in Ukraine in February 2014.

The Russian leadership has stated many times that the people of Crimea have expressed their desire to rejoin Russia, in a democratic process that fully complies with the requirements of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. According to President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is complete and irreversibly closed.

Dec 02, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Crimea and Sevastopol.

Crimea is part of Ukraine that was illegally annexed by Russia. Following the covert invasion by “little green men”, the referendum in Crimea was conducted hastily and at gunpoint, barring impartial observers from entering the peninsula. Therefore, no international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on the 27th of February 2014, and held on 16th of March 2014.