Republic of Crimea (Russia)
In February 2014, Russian leadership decided to start working on returning Crimea to Russia following the Ukrainian revolution that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. Pro-Russian separatists and unidentifiable soldiers took control of the peninsula within weeks without insignias. On the 6th of March, the Crimean parliament announced a referendum on joining Russia to be held on the 16th of March. The vote offered citizens choices to join Russia or restore the 1992 constitution but excluded keeping the status quo. Most Crimean Tatars boycotted the vote according to BBC interviews. Independent observers disputed the reported results showing 96.77% in favor of independence from Ukraine. The European Union, Canada, Japan, and the United States condemned the vote as illegal.
On the 24th of March 2014, the Russian ruble went into official circulation with parallel use of the Ukrainian hryvnia permitted until the 1st of January 2016. Taxes and fees were required to be paid only in rubles starting immediately. On the 29th of March, clocks across Crimea moved forward to match Moscow time. By the 1st of June 2014, the ruble became the sole legal tender for all transactions. On the 7th of May 2015, phone codes switched from the Ukrainian system to the Russian number system. In July 2015, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev declared that Crimea had been fully integrated into Russia's economy and infrastructure. A new Ministry of Crimean Affairs was created to oversee these changes. The peninsula joined Russia's Southern Military District on the 3rd of April 2014 when diplomatic notes terminated agreements regarding the Black Sea Fleet deployment.
In 2014, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced programs to incorporate the territory into Russia's infrastructure. Construction began on the Crimean Bridge linking the peninsula to the mainland across the Kerch Strait. Road traffic opened on the bridge in 2018 while rail service started in 2019 for passengers and 2020 for freight. The bridge became a vital logistical link during the 2022 invasion before suffering damage from an explosion in October 2022. Simferopol International Airport received modernization starting in 2017 with a new terminal opening in April 2018. A high-tech security fence marking the border with Ukraine was completed on the 28th of December 2018. Power outages occurred in June 2018 affecting all of Crimea but were fixed by Rosseti within approximately one hour.
After annexation, Russia doubled payments to about 560,000 pensioners and 200,000 public workers though these raises were cut back in April 2015. Inflation reached 80% by March 2015 according to Russian statistics. Local food prices grew 2.5 times since the annexation forcing the peninsula to import most food from Russia. By late October 2014, 90% of heads of government-owned corporations were fired under an anti-corruption campaign without charges filed against anyone. Ukrainian banks ceased operations in May 2014 leading to the closure of all Ukrainian banks by the Central Bank of Russia. Eight months after formal annexation it became impossible for clients to access deposits from Ukrainian banks. The Fund for Protection of Depositors paid out over $500 million to 196,400 depositors by the 6th of November 2014. Tourism numbers fluctuated between two million visitors in 2014 and over 6.4 million in 2018 before airbase attacks caused fear among travelers.
United Nations monitors present from April 2 to the 6th of May 2014 reported concerns about treatment of journalists and ethnic minorities. Journalists and activists opposing the referendum faced harassment and abduction. Fifteen persons went missing since March 2014 according to Human Rights Watch while Ukrainian authorities claimed 21 disappeared. Crimeans who refused Russian citizenship faced harassment and intimidation. In November 2014 Human Rights Watch stated that de facto authorities limited free expression and restricted peaceful assembly. Head of Republic Sergey Aksyonov pledged to find missing persons but investigators complained about team rotation harming investigations. By July 2015, 20,000 Crimeans had renounced their Ukrainian citizenship while over 8,800 received Ukrainian passports between annexation and October 2016.
On the 16th of September 2014, the Federal Security Service took control of the building where the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People meets. FSB officers searched the office of Avdet newspaper located inside the Mejlis building. Several members of the Mejlis were subjected to searches at their homes. Some Crimean Tatar opposition figures were banned from entering Crimea for five years. Since annexation several Crimean Tatars have disappeared or been found dead after being reported missing. Authorities claim these deaths connect to smoking unspecified substances or volunteering for the Syrian civil war. In February 2016 human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku was arrested and accused of belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir though he denies involvement. Server Mustafayev founder of Crimean Solidarity was imprisoned in May 2018 charged with membership of a terrorist organization.
On the 27th of March 2014 the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution claiming the referendum was invalid by a vote of 100 to 11 with 58 abstentions. Countries like Australia Canada France Germany Italy Japan UK and US voted for the resolution while Russia voted against it. Armenia recognized the referendum on the 21st of March 2014 leading Ukraine to recall its ambassador. Nicaragua unconditionally recognized incorporation into Russia on the 27th of March 2014. Belarus stated Crimea was de facto part of Russia but did not officially recognize the claim until November 2021. The United States European Union and Australia all claim they do not issue visas to residents of Crimea with Russian passports. Subsequent UN resolutions reaffirmed non-recognition of the annexation and condemned the temporary occupation of the territory.
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Common questions
When did Russia annex Crimea and what were the initial steps taken?
Russian leadership decided to return Crimea to Russia in February 2014 following the Ukrainian revolution. Pro-Russian separatists took control of the peninsula within weeks without insignias before the Crimean parliament announced a referendum on the 6th of March.
What dates marked the transition from Ukrainian currency to Russian rubles in Crimea?
The Russian ruble entered official circulation on the 24th of March 2014 with parallel use of the hryvnia permitted until the 1st of January 2016. By the 1st of June 2014, the ruble became the sole legal tender for all transactions across the territory.
How many people received deposits from the Fund for Protection of Depositors by November 2014?
The Fund for Protection of Depositors paid out over $500 million to 196,400 depositors by the 6th of November 2014. This occurred after eight months when it became impossible for clients to access deposits from Ukrainian banks following their closure.
Which infrastructure projects were completed in Crimea between 2017 and 2022?
Simferopol International Airport received modernization starting in 2017 with a new terminal opening in April 2018. A high-tech security fence marking the border with Ukraine was completed on the 28th of December 2018 while the Crimean Bridge opened for road traffic in 2018 and rail service began in 2019.
What human rights concerns did United Nations monitors report regarding journalists and minorities in 2014?
United Nations monitors present from April 2 to the 6th of May 2014 reported concerns about treatment of journalists and ethnic minorities. Journalists and activists opposing the referendum faced harassment and abduction while fifteen persons went missing since March 2014 according to Human Rights Watch.