A lot of changes happened in the world in 2014. For some they passed unnoticed, others simply began to read the news more often, for others the world became war.

A lot has changed for this year. “The Crimean Peninsula and the city of Sevastopol became part of the Russian Federation,” - this is how the result of the 2014 referendum will sound for many descendants. This will be in 20, 30, maybe 40 years. And now some will say: “Crimea has returned home,” others will argue: “Russia has occupied Crimea.”

Before taking a closer look at the events of early 2014 and understanding what Crimeans are breathing after a year of Crimea’s annexation to Russia, it’s worth taking a short excursion into the past and finding out how the history of the peninsula and Russia are connected.

The transition of Crimea to the rule of the Russian Empire

In July 1774, the war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire ended. As a result, a number of Black Sea cities went to the winners, and they received the right to have merchant and military ships in the Black Sea. An independent state emerged on the Crimean peninsula.

Already in 1774, it became clear that the annexation of Crimea to Russia was, as they say, a matter of time. But it was resolved not by military means, but by political means.

With the help of Russia, he came to power in Crimea, and the previous ruler and his supporters were forced to flee to Turkey. The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1783 was confirmed by the manifesto of Empress Catherine II on April 8. Since then, the history of the peninsula has been inextricably linked with Russia.

Brief history of Crimea from 1921 to 1954

After joining Russia in 1783, Crimea began to change dramatically, infrastructure and production developed, and the national composition of the population changed.

When the Bolsheviks came to power and the Civil War ended, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created. At the beginning of the 20th century, the following people lived on the peninsula: Russians, who made up almost half of the population (49.6%), Crimean Tatars (19.4%), Ukrainians (13.7%), Jews (5.8%), Germans (4 .5%) and other nationalities (7%).

During the Great Patriotic War, there were fierce battles in Crimea; the long occupation changed the appearance of the peninsula and the character of its inhabitants beyond recognition. In the spring of 1944, the operation to liberate Crimea from the invaders began.

In 1944-1946, the Crimean Tatars were deported from the peninsula for supporting Nazi Germany, and the Crimean region was formed as part of Russia.

Crimea and Ukraine

In 1954, Crimea was included in this. This was logical and dictated by close economic and cultural ties, as well as the unity of the territories. Many communications, railways and roads were connected to the mainland of Ukraine.

In 1989, the attitude of the Union government towards the Crimean Tatars changed and their return migration to the peninsula began.

At the beginning of 1991, the first referendum was held, as a result of which Crimea again received autonomy rights within the Ukrainian SSR. After the collapse, Crimea remained part of the now independent state of Ukraine. From 1994 to 2014, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea existed. At the beginning of 2014, Crimea was re-annexed to Russia.

Where it all started

In November 2013, protests began. The country's President V. Yanukovych postponed the signing of an association agreement with the European Union. This was the reason for people to take to the streets.

The action that began with a student rally grew into a powerful movement. Tens of thousands of people organized a tent city in the center of Kyiv, began to occupy administrative buildings, and burn tires.

Gradually, the peaceful rally turned into a violent confrontation between demonstrators and the police. The first victims appeared on both sides. At the same time, actions against the existing government began in the western regions of Ukraine, their own heads of city and regional councils were appointed, and monuments to the Soviet regime were destroyed.

Coup d'etat in Ukraine

In February 2014, the action in Kyiv, which became known as Euromaidan, reached its peak. Dozens of protesters and law enforcement officers were killed by unknown snipers. The opposition and leaders of the protest movement carried out a coup, President Yanukovych and his family fled the country.

Pro-Western leaders came to power, aggressively opposed to Russians, Russia, and the Soviet Union. Illegal armed groups began to move from Kyiv to the regions. Retaliatory mass actions against the new regime began.

Crimea: from demonstrations to referendum

The crisis of the Ukrainian government in February 2014 led Crimea to the need to determine its future fate. The adoption of a new government in Ukraine meant a break in the historical, cultural, and social connection of the peninsula with Russia. The forces that carried out the coup in Kyiv clearly spoke hostilely and aggressively about Russians, including those living in Crimea.

In Kerch and other cities, protests began against the new government in Kyiv, the oppression of the Russian language, the imposition of their history, the arrival of armed aggressive supporters of Euromaidan, and the destruction of monuments from the Soviet era. It must be said, however, that part of the population of Crimea supported the leaders who came to power and, in general, the action in the center of the capital of Ukraine. Basically, the Crimean Tatars expressed agreement with the new government.

Defending their values, culture, everyday life and security, the residents of Crimea announced their desire to hold a referendum to determine the will of the majority of citizens of the peninsula: to remain under the rule of Ukraine or to join Russia.

Preparation, implementation and results of the 2014 referendum

The date for the referendum on the fate of Crimea was set for May 25. While active preparations were being carried out on the peninsula, the issue of the illegality of such a referendum was discussed in Ukraine, the USA and European countries, and they talked in advance about non-recognition of its results.

Later, against the backdrop of growing tensions, the voting date was postponed to March 16. The people in Crimea demonstrated great activity and turnout, exceeding 80% of the population. Crimeans realized the fate of the referendum. This was not yet the date of Crimea’s annexation to Russia, but now it is proposed to make March 16 a holiday on the peninsula.

Already on March 17, the results were summed up. The population of Crimea voted for unification with Russia. And a law was approved and signed, according to which Crimea and Sevastopol were officially annexed to Russia.

Russian military in Crimea

At the end of winter 2014, active movements of people in military uniform were noticed on the Crimean peninsula. Politicians who illegally gained power in Kyiv immediately accused Russia of military aggression. In turn, Russia denied the presence of its military contingent on the peninsula, except for based units in accordance with the agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Later, the military personnel who redeployed on the peninsula began to be called “little green men” and “polite people.”

It must be said that Ukraine refused to create conditions for the expression of the will of the people by the leadership of the Autonomous Republic. And, thanks to the presence of the Russian military contingent, which had the right to be on the peninsula, the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place peacefully.

Questions of the legality of the secession of Crimea from Ukraine

Ukraine and its allies immediately denounced the illegal actions of the Crimean and Russian governments. The results of the referendum and the very fact of its holding, according to the leaders of many countries, are illegal. The countries of the European Union and the United States did not recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia and continue to claim that the peninsula is under occupation.

At the same time, they supported the unconstitutional coup in Kyiv, and, moreover, representatives of the United States and European countries met with Euromaidan activists and even advised its leaders.

The announcement of a referendum in Crimea was accepted by the legitimate government of the autonomous republic. The turnout at the polling stations showed the interest of the population in resolving the issue of the future life of the peninsula in the context of the growing crisis in Ukraine and the world. The absolute majority, exceeding 90% of those who voted, supported the annexation of Crimea to Russia.

International law implies the ability of people living in a certain territory to independently decide their fate. And the population of Crimea did it. The autonomy of the republic within Ukraine allowed the government to announce a referendum, and so it happened.

The first months after the referendum

The transition period is difficult for the residents of the peninsula. The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014 is undoubtedly the most important historical event in the life of the entire country. But what has the life of Crimeans become and will become in the near future?

In March-April 2014, businesses and banks began to close on the peninsula, and payments by cards and at cash desks stopped. Ukrainian businessmen withdrew their assets.

Interruptions in water and electricity began, unemployment increased, and queues for re-issuance of documents did not add joy to the everyday life of Crimeans. In April-May, the first wave of refugees from the south-east of Ukraine poured onto the peninsula, where an armed confrontation between the Kyiv authorities and the militia of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions began.

How did local residents perceive the annexation of Crimea to Russia a few months later? The reviews were very different. Some succumbed to sadness and panic due to the worsening economic situation. Others showed a willingness to follow their chosen path through any obstacles. Life on the peninsula has changed, and not for the better in all areas, but Crimeans live and enjoy the changes.

Cell phone numbers have not yet been changed, the hryvnia has not been withdrawn from circulation, or new license plates have not been received for cars, but tricolor flags are already flying everywhere.

How Crimeans celebrated New Year 2015

The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014 added troubles and worries to the life of the indigenous population. Because of these worries, someone did not even notice that the New Year was approaching. In cities, power and water are being cut off more and more often, prices are rising as well as traffic jams, new jobs have not yet been created, so many will celebrate the holidays modestly: no work, no money.

It’s almost a year since the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place. Opinions still vary. But here and there you can hear the call: “Don’t worry, we’ll survive.”
In 2015, Crimeans still face a lot of changes, but they have already learned to be patient. The main thing that many of them note is the calmness that allows them to look into the future without fear.

Russia after the annexation of Crimea

Many political scientists, economists, and entrepreneurs believe that the annexation of Crimea to Russia is so expensive for the country that it would have been cheaper to buy the peninsula from Ukraine. Sanctions initiated by the United States began to be felt in the work of Russian enterprises by the summer of 2014. The country's financial system has also destabilized.

Even large enterprises are forced to reduce the number of products produced, and therefore layoffs of workers are expected, which means an increase in unemployment throughout the country.

The United States was supported by most EU countries. Sanctions are getting tougher, Russia is accused of occupying Crimea and actively assisting the militias of South-East Ukraine. The Kyiv authorities constantly make statements about the presence of regular Russian troops on their sovereign territory.

Europe and the United States are trying to isolate the Russian economy, collapse financial markets, and force it to play by its own rules. But the situation has not gotten out of control, the country has serious allies, and the economy is beginning to reorient itself towards new markets.

Time to collect stones. A year after the events so joyful to the heart of the Russian people, we are observing what could have happened to the peninsula if Russia had not come to the aid of the people of Crimea in time, who had called out for it. Yesterday while watching a movie "Crimea. Path to the Motherland" we learned that NATO units were already stationed in Feodosia. They were controlled directly from the US Embassy in Kyiv.

Today, one can only listen with laughter to the cries of American propagandists and local liberals that the States did not need Crimea, that the coup in Kyiv took place “on its own.” Therefore, I propose to remember once again how everything happened in order to obtain the facts.

In order to be more precise, I suggest turning to the book “Russia. Crimea. History”, which we wrote together with Nikolai Starikov.

I must say that within six months of its release the book became a real bestseller - more than 30 thousand books found their readers.

So, we will consider all the events in Crimea in parallel to what was happening in Kyiv.

February 22, 2014 The Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution stating that Yanukovych “unconstitutionally removed himself from the exercise of constitutional powers” ​​and was not fulfilling his duties, and also called early presidential elections for May 25, 2014. At the same time, an interview with Yanukovych from Kharkov was broadcast on television. In it, he stated that he was not going to resign and sign decisions of the Verkhovna Rada, which he considered illegal, and qualified what was happening in the country as “vandalism, banditry and a coup d’etat.”

February 23, 2014 year, the duties of the President of Ukraine, in violation of the Constitution, were assigned to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Alexander Turchynov. On the same day, the Rada adopted the repeal of the Law on Regional Languages. Voting in parliament took place against the backdrop of militant outrages in Kiev and attacks on Berkut columns being withdrawn from Kiev. Many deputies are forcibly detained in the Rada and forced to hand over their voting cards. Uninvited guests in masks and with weapons come to the apartments and houses of various politicians. The Rada building is guarded by hundreds of Maidan self-defense units.

Now a few words on the topic of the illegality of the authorities in Kiev, which self-appointed after the coup on February 21, 2014. The appearance of legality was given to it by the fact that appointments and decrees were stamped by the Verkhovna Rada. The same one that was BEFORE the coup. But what we have before us is mimicry, the illusion of legality. It is not difficult to verify this. It is enough to take the Constitution of Ukraine and read it. Let's leave aside emotions and conversations about how much and who disliked Yanukovych, as well as how bad he was. Let us also put aside the question that since he left the territory of Ukraine, he ceased to be its head. There is nothing of this in the Constitution, there is not a word about “love for the president” and his duty “to be in Ukraine.” But there are clear legal formulations describing the circumstances of the termination of his powers. Here is the Constitution of Ukraine as amended in 2004, which the oppositionists so wanted to return:

“Article 105. The President of Ukraine enjoys the right of immunity for the period of execution of powers. For attacks on the honor and dignity of the President of Ukraine, the perpetrators are held accountable on the basis of the law. The title of the President of Ukraine is protected by law and is retained for life, unless the President of Ukraine has been removed from office by impeachment.”

The President is inviolable - he cannot be detained or arrested. And this is exactly what they tried to do during Yanukovych’s hasty escape; his car was also fired upon. There was also a group of liquidators.

But let's return to the Constitution. The President of Ukraine, she tells us, can ONLY be removed from office as a result of impeachment proceedings. No matter what crime he committed, any other way is a GROSS VIOLATION of the fundamental law. Only impeachment or nothing at all. How is impeachment carried out? This is also described in detail in the Basic Law. This is not just a vote, but a complex procedure. To carry it out, at least 226 deputies must initiate the creation of a special investigative commission, which includes a special prosecutor and special investigators. Was such a commission created? No. Next comes the investigation, and the findings are considered by the Rada. Therefore, 300 deputies must vote for the accusation of the president. We emphasize: not for suspension, but for now only for accusation! Finally, at least 338 deputies (that is, 3⁄4 out of 450 - the number of deputies of the Rada) must vote for the impeachment of the president and remove him from power. But they can do this only “after checking the case by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and receiving its conclusion regarding compliance with the constitutional procedure for the investigation and consideration of the impeachment case and receiving the conclusion of the Supreme Court of Ukraine that the acts of which the President of Ukraine is accused bear signs of high treason or another crime."

It is easy to see that nothing required by the Constitution was done. This means: there was no impeachment. The procedure hasn't even started. Finally, in the Rada, during a vote that violated the Constitution, 328 votes were cast for the “removal of Yanukovych” while the required 338. That is, the law was violated more than once. It’s time to ask yourself the question: is it possible to violate the Constitution in such a sensitive matter as the appointment of the head of the country? No. But if you violate it, then you become an illegal, illegitimate power. This is what they were talking about in Russia, starting from the first day of the coup in Kyiv...

Crimea. February 23, 2014 residents of Sevastopol refused to recognize the new self-proclaimed Ukrainian government.

Tens of thousands of people gathered for a rally, declaring no confidence in the local administration. At the same time, the participants of the action by universal vote elected the new head of the city - citizen of the Russian Federation Alexei Chaly. The city authorities created a new executive body - the department for ensuring the vital activity of Sevastopol, which was headed by Chaly.

 Crimea. A rally of Crimean Tatars was held in Simferopol, timed to coincide with the day of memory of the “well-known” Mufti Noman Chelebidzhikhan. Of course, during the meeting, the meeting acquired a political character of support for the “new government”. In the hands of those gathered were flags of the EU and Ukraine, Crimean Tatar flags, banners with the slogans “The future of Ukraine and Crimea is in the family of the united peoples of Europe”, “Euromaidan Crimea”. Those gathered several times chanted “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!".

In parallel with the rally of the Crimean Tatars, self-organization of Simferopol residents begins, who do not want to live in the “new” Ukraine with an illegitimate nationalist government; Crimean self-defense units began to form near the government building.

February 24, 2014 the new Ukrainian government received recognition from the European Union and the United States. Such “little things” as the absence of a mention in the Constitution of the post of acting president, a complete violation of the procedure for depriving the president of power, do not concern the “lawyers” from the “civilized world”. Their people carried out a coup d'etat, and therefore the new government is immediately recognized.

February 25, 2014. Crimea. A rally was held in front of the Supreme Council of Crimea in Simferopol, at which people demanded that the authorities hold a referendum and decide what the future political course of the peninsula will be. The purpose of the action is to convey to the Crimean parliament that those gathered do not recognize the authorities established in Ukraine. “We do not accept this brown, pro-fascist plague, which imposes its opinion on us,” said the Cossack chieftain.

February 26, 2014. Crimea. The self-defense set up the first checkpoints around Sevastopol. This comes against the backdrop of a growing understanding that chaos from Kyiv could very soon move to the peninsula and blood will be shed. Protests begin in Simferopol, the participants of which refuse to recognize the change of power in Ukraine that occurred after President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev. The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars brings its supporters to the same place near the Crimean Armed Forces, speaking in support of the Kyiv putschists. A crush forms. As a result, about 20 people were injured during fights near the Crimean parliament, where two rallies were taking place at once. Two people died, one in a stampede, the other from a heart attack. Fortunately, other clashes on ethnic grounds, which were so necessary for the Kyiv authorities, were subsequently avoided.

February 27, 2014 Arseniy Yatsenyuk became Prime Minister of Ukraine, and a provisional government was formed.

 Crimea. At four o’clock in the morning, unknown “polite people” enter the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea to ensure that deputies can safely hold meetings. The active history of the Crimean self-defense forces begins. At a session of the Crimean parliament, Sergei Aksenov, member of the Supreme Council of Crimea, leader of the Russian Unity party, was elected as the new prime minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

On the same day, Viktor Yanukovych held a press conference in Rostov-on-Don, where he stated that power in Ukraine, with the assistance and irresponsible policies of the West and the United States, was seized by nationalist pro-fascist thugs, that he does not recognize the laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, since he has not signed, and the deputies are influenced by death threats from “Maidan self-defense” activists and “Right Sector” militants, that the Verkhovna Rada is illegitimate. Viktor Yanukovych also appealed to the Russian leadership with a request to ensure his personal safety “from the actions of extremists” in connection with death threats received against him.

March 1, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted an appeal to the Federation Council on the use of Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine until the socio-political situation in this country normalizes. On the same day, on an emergency basis, the upper house of the Russian parliament unanimously supported the president’s proposal.

March 3, 2014. Crimea. The press service of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea issued a statement that deputies of the Crimean parliament decided to hold a republican (local) referendum as a form of direct democracy on issues of improving the status and powers of the autonomy on March 30, 2014. It also becomes known that the residents of Sevastopol have come up with an initiative to change the legal status of the city and reassign it directly to the Crimean authorities.

March 5, 2014. Crimea. The Kiev court ordered the detention of Sergei Aksenov and Vladimir Konstantinov, against whom a criminal case was opened under the article “Actions aimed at violently changing or overthrowing the constitutional order or seizing state power.”

March 6, 2014. Crimea. The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea decided to join Russia as a subject of the Russian Federation and hold a referendum on the entire territory of Crimea (including the city of Sevastopol), not on March 30, but on March 16, bringing up for discussion the issue of the future status of the peninsula, involving the choice of one of two answer options: “Are you for the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a subject of the Russian Federation?” or “Are you for restoring the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Crimea and for the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?” On the same day, the Sevastopol City Council adopted a resolution to hold a referendum.

 Crimea. First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Rustam Temirgaliev said that Ukrainian property in Crimea will be nationalized in favor of the new authorities of the region, all private property on the territory of the peninsula will be re-registered taking into account Russian legislation. He pointed to Crimea’s readiness to join the ruble zone.

March 7, 2014. Crimea. Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergei Naryshkin said that Russia will support “the free and democratic choice of the population of Crimea and the population of Sevastopol.” On the same day, a meeting of the delegation of Crimean parliamentarians with the Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko took place. The politician assured that senators would support the decision to incorporate Crimea into Russia if it is adopted.

March 9, 2014. Crimea. The first rallies were held in Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yevpatoria and Kerch in support of the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to Russia. Representatives of the leadership of the Crimean autonomy called on its residents to vote for joining Russia.

Crimea. As of March 9, all Ukrainian television companies stopped broadcasting on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, instead of which Russian channels are broadcast: Channel One, Rossiya-24, NTV, TNT, STS and Rossiya-1. State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company "Crimea" continues to broadcast from local channels.

March 11, 2014. Crimea. The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, according to which, if the peoples of Crimea decide as a result of a referendum to join the Russian Federation, Crimea will be declared a sovereign republic and it is in this status that it will reunite with the Russian Federation Federation as a subject.

March 13, 2014. Crimea. The four leading political parties of Crimea adopted a memorandum on comprehensive assistance to the free expression of the Crimeans during the all-Crimean referendum. The document was signed by the head of the Crimean organization of the Party of Regions Vladimir Konstantinov, the leader of the Russian Unity party Sergei Aksenov, the deputy chairman of the KRO of the Soyuz party Svetlana Savchenko and the leader of the KRO of the Communist Party of Ukraine Oleg Solomakhin.

March 16, 2014. Crimea. A referendum took place, in which, according to official data, 83.1% of voters in Crimea (excluding Sevastopol) took part, of which about 96.77% voted for the reunification of Crimea with Russia, in Sevastopol, respectively - 89.5% and 95.6 %. An incredible rise in spirit and an incredible turnout of Crimeans at the polling stations. In Simferopol and Sevastopol, after the end of voting, celebrations are held in the central squares. The streets are filled with people holding Russian flags and chanting “Russia!” amid festive fireworks.

March 17, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the Republic of Crimea as a sovereign and independent state, in which the city of Sevastopol has a special status.

 Crimea. Russia provides financial assistance to Crimea in the amount of 15 billion rubles.

March 18, 2014 Russia and Crimea signed an agreement on the entry of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin. The document was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the State Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea Sergei Aksenov and Head of Sevastopol Alexei Chaly. With the annexation of Crimea, new entities were formed within the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. The State Duma adopted the corresponding federal constitutional law.

March 21, 2014 Vladimir Putin signed a federal constitutional law on the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the formation of new entities in the country - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. Together with the law, Putin approved the ratification of the agreement on the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the formation of new subjects within the Russian Federation. At the same time, a decree was signed on the creation of the Crimean Federal District.

The feeling that Russian citizens experienced these days can best be expressed in the words of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov: "We are Russians! Hooray! What a delight!.

Let me remind you that this was an excerpt from the book “Russia. Crimea. Story" .

Now, for those who have not yet had time to watch Andrei Kondrashov’s film "Crimea. Path to the Motherland", I suggest doing this.

For the first time, people started talking about unidentified armed people in Crimea on February 26, 2014, when two groups of them occupied the buildings of the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Council of Ministers of the republic, then still part of Ukraine. After this, the “little green men” took control of almost all strategic objects of the peninsula and blocked a number of Ukrainian military units. The soldiers were dressed in the latest Russian pixel camouflage without insignia, and also used weapons and armored vehicles that are in service with the Russian army.

On the evening of March 1, the Federation Council unanimously approved the appeal of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the use of the Russian armed forces in Crimea. It was planned to use the Russian army “until the socio-political situation normalizes” in Ukraine.

On March 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the presence of Russian troops in Crimea, and on March 5, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called photographs of Russian military equipment that appeared on the Internet a “provocation.”
However, at the beginning of the month, army trucks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, communication vehicles, fuel tanks, etc. were moving in columns under Russian flags along the highway to Novorossiysk. There were also reports of platforms with tanks passing through the Krasnodar-I railway station.