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Vladimir Putin and CRIMEA (Information you don't know where to Park…

- - - - It would have meant that NATO's navy would be right there in this city of Russia's military glory, and this would create not an illusory but a perfectly real threat to the whole of southern Russia.
        
        Sevastopol - a legendary city with an outstanding history, a fortress that serves as the birthplace of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
      - NATO's expansion to the east, as well as the deployment of military infrastructure at our borders. It happened with the deployment of a missile defence system.
      - There were no defence plans put in place by NATO to assist its member states in case they were attacked. NATO was also not ready to render military assistance to Ukraine/Georgia even if they joined them. (Eric)
- - - - 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion (Boon Hui)
      - Weak Domestic Support. Crimeans began protesting after the new self-proclaimed government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of other languages in official circumstances in Ukraine. More than half the Crimean population are Russian and use only this language for their communication. The residents have announced they are going to hold a referendum to determine the fate of the Ukrainian autonomous region (Boon Hui)
      - Protect Russia's interests: presence of Russian fleet, conditions for Russian ethnics and businesses, Ukraine's foreign policy orientation
  - - - Strategically located with deep waters
      - Large naval facilities and shipyard
      - Continued lease of the port beyond 2017 was threatened by increased nationalist Ukrainian government
      - The intelligence officials, who failed to anticipate Russia sending troops into Cremea, defended their analysis, however, saying Putin may have made a spur of the moment decision to take military action (Boon Hui)
      - Threat of military encirclement by NATO if Ukraine become its member (Eric)
        
        Increasing signs of NATO expanding along Russia's Western Border (Eric)
- - - - More than 82% of the electorate took part in the vote. Over 96% of them spoke out in favour of reuniting with Russia.
        (CC) [Source: BBC News; Annotation of Putin's Speech)
      - Putin claimed that referendum was fair and transparent, and the people of Crimea clearly and convincingly expressed their will and stated that they want to be with Russia.
        (CC) [Source: BBC News; Annotation of Putin's Speech)
  - - - Mobilising BSF in Geogia War
      - Tail US Naval Vessels sending relief aids
- - - - 95% of people (Russians) think that Russia should protect the interests of Russians and members of other ethnic groups living in Crimea.
        (CC) [Source: BBC News; Annotation of Putin's Speech)
        
        A total of 86% of our people see Crimea as still being Russian territory and part of our country's lands.
        
        Almost 92% of our people support Crimea's reunification with Russia.
        
        More than 83% think that Russia should do this even if it will complicate our relations with some other countries.
  - - - Crimea has an area of 26,100 km2 (10,100 sq mi), making it 148th country in the world. It has a population of about 2.2 million.
        
        Ethnic groups (2001)
        
        58.32% Russians
        
        24.32% Ukrainians
        
        12.1% Crimean Tatars
  - - - Crimean Tatars were Turkic members of the Golden Horde founded by Batu Khan in the early thirteenth century. Following the conquest of Crimea in the mid-thirteenth century, these Turkic groups were encouraged to settle there; they did so, displacing the indigenous Slavic population. (TH)
      - 1470s, conquered by the Ottoman Turks and appeared to be absorbed into the Empire as a semi-autonomous province. The Crimean Tatar Khanate prospered in the 300 years that followed, building an economy based on trade, particularly on slave trade. (TH)
      - 1771 Russian force invaded Crimea.
        
        Nov 1772, Treaty of Karasu Bazaar, signed between Russia and the Tatars, created an independent Crimean state under the supervision and protection of Russia. 3 more Russian invasions of the peninsula followed in the next ten years.
        
        1783 the independent Crimean state was completely annexed by Russia. (TH)
      - 1784-1790 Russia mistreatment of Tatar saw an exodus of populations. As well as the subsequent wars saw more Tatars fled Crimea.
        
        1917 Crimean populations consisted 50% Russians, 25% Tatars, 25% Ukrainians and other nationalities.
        
        Early 20th century also saw the emergence of Crimean Tatar national aspirations. (TH)
      - 1921, under USSR, Crimea was made Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR). Enjoyed significant cultural freedom.
        
        However, mass purges in 1930s due to aggressive period of Russification.
        
        1944, after Red Army reoccupy Crimea, Tatars were targeted and large numbers deported for defecting to Germans during the start of WWII, i.e. "Cleansing" (TH)
    - - Ukraine declared sovereignty 1990 led to suggestion for Crimea separation. Referendum 12 Feb 1991 restored Crimea ASSR.
        
        However 1 Dec 1991 54.1% voted supported Ukraine independence. Crimea direct rule from Kiev as autonomous region.
        
        Political qn on legality of restoring Crimea autonomous status without annulment of 1954 Act.
      - 1992, Russia's view on Crimea was a problem for Ukraine to solve.
        
        deterioration of social economic situations;
        
        population dissatisfaction with "Ukrainisation"
        
        aggravation of political situation with emergence of RDK which backed Crimea sovereignty and separation from Ukraine.
        
        However, Russia saw Crimea as a vital historical, economical and strategical location. Voiced openly by Russian officials on reclaiming Crimea. In addition, debate in Russia parliament concluded the 1954 law as invalid.
      - Throughout this period, Ukraine had always see Crimea as a part of sovereign Ukraine.