The Annual Report Overview
The Situation in the Annexed Crimea and the De-Occupation Strategy
The Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Areas of Ukraine –
Crimea and Areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions
In May-June 2014 the “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Foundation was the first in Ukraine to formulate the basic principles of the Crimea Regain Strategy (1,2,3,4,5). Those principles have been publicized many times and commented on in Ukrainian and foreign media and social networks. In November-December 2014 they were published and presented in the book A Strategy for Regaining Crimea.
Some conclusions concerning the initial period of the Crimea occupation, from February to December 2014, were published in a report presented in Washington on March 6, 2015 .
The first version of “The Strategy for Regaining the Crimea” (henceforth referred to as 'Strategy') was formulated on the assumption that it would be used by top-level agencies in the national government of Ukraine; however, these expectations were not fulfilled, or else they were only partially realized and to a very small degree.
Presentation I made for a lecture, which summarizes the main events of the Crisis highlighting, in particular, the role of the EU and other International Organizations in attempting to solve the situation.
In May-June 2014 the “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Foundation was the first in Ukraine to formulate the basic principles of the Crimea Regain Strategy (1,2,3,4,5). Those principles have been publicized many times and commented on in Ukrainian and foreign media and social networks. In November-December 2014 they were published and presented in the book A Strategy for Regaining Crimea.
Some conclusions concerning the initial period of the Crimea occupation, from February to December 2014, were published in a report presented in Washington on March 6, 2015 .
The first version of “The Strategy for Regaining the Crimea” (henceforth referred to as 'Strategy') was formulated on the assumption that it would be used by top-level agencies in the national government of Ukraine; however, these expectations were not fulfilled, or else they were only partially realized and to a very small degree.
Presentation I made for a lecture, which summarizes the main events of the Crisis highlighting, in particular, the role of the EU and other International Organizations in attempting to solve the situation.
The regain of the ARC (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) to Ukraine will commence with
Ukrainian troops entering the peninsula. No referendums to confirm the mandate of Ukraine for
the return of Crimea are needed because Ukraine did not recognize any illegal referendum on its
separation.
The fear of war is looming over Europe, is this World War 3 is the question in everyone's mind. Russia has amassed a huge number of troops on the border of Ukraine. The leaders of the Western countries (US, Germany, U.K. and Canada) have asked their citizens to immediately leave Ukraine.
The aim of the paper is to explore the cultural context of the conflict in
eastern Ukraine. From this perspective, the conflict in Donbas has to be seen not
only in the context of a political game, socio-economic transition and geopolitical
interests, but also in the light of a cultural conflict rooted in history. According to
Ukrainian researcher Mykola Riabchuk, Ukraine is divided, not between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, but between two different types of Ukrainian identity. These
profound differences have been exacerbated by the events of the “Euromaidan” and,
subsequently, the violent conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared
Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the one hand and the post-revolutionary
Ukrainian government on the other. This article focuses on how the cultural divisions
of Ukrainian society have been used since the beginning of Ukrainian independence
by the political elite as a tool of symbolic politics, contributing to the mass mobilization of Ukrainian society and the outbreak of a violent conflict.
THE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CONFLICT AS A NEW FOCUS OF WAR IN THE WORLDFernando Alcoforado
This article aims to analyze the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, point out its causes and consequences from a geopolitical point of view and the risks it represents for the outbreak of a war with global repercussions. There are several countries that can become outbreaks of wars in the world, highlighting, among them, Palestine, Israel, Iran and North Korea. Now, Ukraine is part of the list of countries that are the focus of a new world war.
Authors’ note:
A lot has happened in the last 5 days since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on the 24th February 2022. In my bulletin I aim to conclude and share the information what I have gathered either through the support of the European Cyber Community or through my discussions with current and former members of armed forces in Europe. As my main profession – raising cyber resilience for organizations and nations to resist large scale cyber and hybrid incidents – requires me to holistically analyze the impact of multiple events happening parallel, I will not only focus on the cyber space aspect, but overall. For the strictly military movement timeline and events or ongoing fights there are many trustworthy resources out there, hence I will not put focus on that. This is not a study, I will not provide links and references. Many of the information you can simply search for, some or relying on personal discussions with subject matter experts.
Finally, everything written here is reflecting my own personal view.
Due to the international media’s continued claims about the «annexation of Crimea», it’s been difficult for the citizens of the US and Europe to make sense of the details of the peninsula’s recent history. Exactly three years ago, on March 16, 2014, the Crimeans were offered a choice: to rejoin Russia or to return to the constitution of 1992 that proclaimed Crimea a legal, democratic, secular state whose relationship with Ukraine was based on bilateral agreements. That constitution was unilaterally abolished by Kiev on March 17, 1995, and here’s what’s surprising: no one at that time in the West demanded that the Ukrainian government stop violating the provisions of international law and the rights of the inhabitants of the Crimean peninsula.
The regain of the ARC (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) to Ukraine will commence with
Ukrainian troops entering the peninsula. No referendums to confirm the mandate of Ukraine for
the return of Crimea are needed because Ukraine did not recognize any illegal referendum on its
separation.
The fear of war is looming over Europe, is this World War 3 is the question in everyone's mind. Russia has amassed a huge number of troops on the border of Ukraine. The leaders of the Western countries (US, Germany, U.K. and Canada) have asked their citizens to immediately leave Ukraine.
The aim of the paper is to explore the cultural context of the conflict in
eastern Ukraine. From this perspective, the conflict in Donbas has to be seen not
only in the context of a political game, socio-economic transition and geopolitical
interests, but also in the light of a cultural conflict rooted in history. According to
Ukrainian researcher Mykola Riabchuk, Ukraine is divided, not between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, but between two different types of Ukrainian identity. These
profound differences have been exacerbated by the events of the “Euromaidan” and,
subsequently, the violent conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared
Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the one hand and the post-revolutionary
Ukrainian government on the other. This article focuses on how the cultural divisions
of Ukrainian society have been used since the beginning of Ukrainian independence
by the political elite as a tool of symbolic politics, contributing to the mass mobilization of Ukrainian society and the outbreak of a violent conflict.
THE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CONFLICT AS A NEW FOCUS OF WAR IN THE WORLDFernando Alcoforado
This article aims to analyze the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, point out its causes and consequences from a geopolitical point of view and the risks it represents for the outbreak of a war with global repercussions. There are several countries that can become outbreaks of wars in the world, highlighting, among them, Palestine, Israel, Iran and North Korea. Now, Ukraine is part of the list of countries that are the focus of a new world war.
Authors’ note:
A lot has happened in the last 5 days since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on the 24th February 2022. In my bulletin I aim to conclude and share the information what I have gathered either through the support of the European Cyber Community or through my discussions with current and former members of armed forces in Europe. As my main profession – raising cyber resilience for organizations and nations to resist large scale cyber and hybrid incidents – requires me to holistically analyze the impact of multiple events happening parallel, I will not only focus on the cyber space aspect, but overall. For the strictly military movement timeline and events or ongoing fights there are many trustworthy resources out there, hence I will not put focus on that. This is not a study, I will not provide links and references. Many of the information you can simply search for, some or relying on personal discussions with subject matter experts.
Finally, everything written here is reflecting my own personal view.
Due to the international media’s continued claims about the «annexation of Crimea», it’s been difficult for the citizens of the US and Europe to make sense of the details of the peninsula’s recent history. Exactly three years ago, on March 16, 2014, the Crimeans were offered a choice: to rejoin Russia or to return to the constitution of 1992 that proclaimed Crimea a legal, democratic, secular state whose relationship with Ukraine was based on bilateral agreements. That constitution was unilaterally abolished by Kiev on March 17, 1995, and here’s what’s surprising: no one at that time in the West demanded that the Ukrainian government stop violating the provisions of international law and the rights of the inhabitants of the Crimean peninsula.
In "The Militarization of Crimea under Russian Occupation," Crimean activist, expert of the Maidan of Foreign Affaires Andrii Klymenko explains how the Kremlin has moved to tighten its grip on Crimea as the world turns its focus toward Syria. Indeed, Russia has proven itself to be settling in for the long haul in Crimea, with mass relocations of Russian military servicemen to the peninsula spurring housing shortages and massive infrastructure projects.
The Militarization of Crimea under Russian Occupation UkraineUnderAttack
In "The Militarization of Crimea under Russian Occupation," Crimean activist Andrii Klymenko explains how the Kremlin has moved to tighten its grip on Crimea as the world turns its focus toward Syria.
Conflict-related Displacement in Ukraine: Increased Vulnerabilities of Affect...DonbassFullAccess
In August 2014 the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) published its first thematic report on internal displacement in Ukraine. The existence of critical voices in some host communities towards internally displaced persons (IDPs) was raised as an emerging issue. Two years after the start of the conflict in and around Ukraine, similar concerns to the ones voiced in 2014 still exist and are now compounded by new challenges. The SMM monitors spoke to more than 1,600 IDPs and members of host communities across the country in order to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict and long-term displacement on IDPs and their relations with host communities.
Conflict-related Displacement in Ukraine: Increased Vulnerabilities of Affect...DonbassFullAccess
In August 2014 the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) published its first thematic report on internal displacement in Ukraine. The existence of critical voices in some host communities towards internally displaced persons (IDPs) was raised as an emerging issue. Two years after the start of the conflict in and around Ukraine, similar concerns to the ones voiced in 2014 still exist and are now compounded by new challenges. The SMM monitors spoke to more than 1,600 IDPs and members of host communities across the country in order to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict and long-term displacement on IDPs and their relations with host communities.
While the findings are not a complete assessment of the IDP situation in Ukraine, the SMM found that many IDPs continue to be exposed to severe hardship and suffer from the protracted displacement. The SMM notes, however, that the challenges faced by displaced persons in the non-government controlled areas may be of a different nature than the concerns of IDPs in the government-controlled areas. The SMM points out that the lack of access to specific data in non-government controlled areas precludes an overall comparative appraisal of the situation.
More than 2 years have passed since Minsk I was signed in September, 2014. The Agreement fi xed a step-by-step return of the uncontrolled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the control of Ukraine. However, it has not been implemented yet; moreover, it has been violated many times.
The parties to the confl ict interpret the Agreement implementation algorithm diff erently and accuse each other of unwillingness to implement it. There are local clashes and shooting at the demarcation line; diplomats hold regular meetings in European countries and in Minsk; however, there has been no breakthrough. At the same time, those people, who live on the territory of the Donetsk region, which was united in the past, continue living in new conditions.
NGO Donetsk Institute of Information has conducted audit of various spheres of life in the Donetsk region during the two years of the non-implementation of the Minsk Agreement and presents recommendations which might help make the life of civilians as well as the future reintegration of the region easier.
Hardship for conflict-affected civilians in eastern UkraineDonbassFullAccess
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine continuously monitors conflictaffected areas and reports on the precarious humanitarian situation impacting the lives of the most vulnerable groups of the population in Ukraine. The SMM has observed that ongoing hostilities infringe on the living conditions of civilians on both sides of the contact line. This includes their access to adequate housing, safe drinking water, energy for cooking, heating, lighting, and access to essential medicine and basic health services, including psychological support. Civilians residing along the approximately 500-kilometre-long contact line are significantly affected by the conduct of hostilities including the presence of Ukrainian Armed Forces, so-called “LPR” and so-called “DPR” armed formations and the use of heavy weapons in or near their villages, cities and towns.
Hardship for conflict-affected civilians in eastern UkraineDonbassFullAccess
This report covers the challenges faced by conflict-affected civilians living along the contact line in accessing adequate housing, safe drinking water, and energy for cooking, heating, lighting, and essential medicine and basic health services. It does not provide a comprehensive assessment of the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine; it seeks to provide an overview of the current humanitarian challenges and key concerns that arise from the conduct of hostilities in populated areas as well as by relevant measures adopted by the sides.
The findings in this report are based on regular monitoring by the SMM from May to end of September 2016. On a daily basis the SMM monitors the situation of civilians living on both sides, near and along the approximately 500-kilometre-long contact line throughout Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Particular attention is given to populations living in hard-to-reach locations, and to locations where “DPR” and “LPR” armed formations have established positions or are using equipment within or near populated areas. Similar situations involving the Ukrainian Armed Forces are also a focus for the SMM. The SMM monitors the human rights situation of these civilians, their living conditions and humanitarian needs through direct observation and interviews.
The “green men” who fanned out across Crimea in early 2014, establishing control over key infrastructure and clearing the way for once-marginal political actors to seize the reins of power, were the vanguard of a forced political change that has led to grave human rights abuses across the Crimean peninsula.
Similar to The Situation in the Annexed Crimea and the De-Occupation Strategy (20)
Презентація результатів соціологічного дослідження щодо перспектив деокупації...Майдан Закордонних Справ
Соціологічне опитування було здійснено компанією «Социс» 18-21 березня 2016
рокуна замовлення телеканалу «1+1». Результати щодо перспектив деокупації
Криму та ставлення до Мінських домовленостей оприлюднюються в рамках
спільного проекту «Майдану закордонних справ» та «1+1» для дослідження
громадської думки стосовно Криму та Донбасу.
Опитано 1486 респондентів у віці 18 років і старше.Вибірка репрезентативна
щодо населення України за віком, статтю, розміром населеного пункту та ре-
гіоном проживання (за даними Державної служби статистки України станом
на 01.01.2015).
Метод опитування – особисте інтерв’ю на дому у респондента за допомогою
планшетів (ComputerAssistedPersonalInterview, CAPI). Максимальна похибка
вибірки не перевищує 2.6%.
В соціологічному дослідженні та в цій презентації використаний такий регіо-
нальний поділ:
Київ;
Східний регіон (Дніпропетровська, Харківська та Запорізька області, а та-
кож неокуповані території Донецької та Луганської областей);
Південний регіон (Одеська, Миколаївська та Херсонська області);
Західний регіон (Волинська, Закарпатська, Івано-Франківська, Львівська,
Рівненська Тернопільська, Хмельницька та Чернівецька області);
Північний регіон(Житомирська, Київська, Сумська та Чернігівська облас-
ті);
Центральний регіон(Вінницька, Кіровоградська, Полтавська та Черкаська
області).
Аналіз результатів дослідження підготовлений експертами «Майдану закор-
донних справ»
ВІДОЗВА учасників експертної конференції “Мінські домовленості - шлях вирішен...Майдан Закордонних Справ
ВІДОЗВА
учасників експертної конференції “Мінські домовленості - шлях вирішення конфлікту чи рецепт катастрофи”
щодо неприйнятності нав’язування Україні обмеженого суверенітету шляхом реалізації «Мінських домовленостей»
Серед численних причин того, що «Мінські домовленості» не
Основні тези щорічної доповіді "Ситуація в анексованому Криму і стратегія йо...Майдан Закордонних Справ
Основні тези щорічної доповіді
Фонду Майдан закордонних справ
Ситуація в анексованому Криму
і стратегія його деокупації
Ситуація на тимчасово окупованих територіях України –
в Автономній Республіці Крим
та в окремих районах Донецької та Луганської областей
Генеральною прокуратурою України проводиться досудове розслідування у кримінальному провадженні, внесеному до Єдиного реєстру досудових розслідувань 15.08.2014 за № 12014040670002852, за ознаками кримінальних правопорушень, передбачених ст. ст. 255 ч.1; 28 ч.4, 27 ч. 3, 191 ч.5; 28 ч.4, 27 ч.3, 349; 28 ч.4, 27 ч.3, 289; 28 ч.4, 27 ч.3, 157 ч.3 КК України.
Досудове розслідування зазначеного провадження проводиться з чисельними порушеннями національного та міжнародного законодавства.
В мае-июне 2014 «Майдан Иностранных Дел» впервые в Украине сформулировал основные принципы Стратегии возвращения Крыма. Они многократно публиковались и комментировались в украинских и зарубежных СМИ и социальных сетях, а в ноябре-декабре 2014 были изданы и презентованы в книге «Стратегия возвращения Крыма».
Некоторые итоги и выводы за начальный период оккупации Крыма – с февраля по декабрь 2014 – были опубликованы в докладе, представленном в Вашингтоне 6 марта 2015 (7).
Первый вариант «Стратегии возвращения Крыма» (далее – Стратегия) разрабатывался в расчете на ее использование высшими органами государственной власти Украины. Однако, этот расчет не оправдался или оправдался фрагментарно и в очень малой степени.
У травні-червні 2014 «Майдан Закор-донних Справ» вперше в Україні сфор-мулював основні принципи Стратегії повернення Криму . Вони багаторазово публікувалися і коментувалися в українських і зарубіжних ЗМІ та соціальних мережах, а в листопаді-грудні 2014 року їх було видано й презентовано у книзі «Стратегія повернення Криму».
Певні підсумки і висновки за початковий період окупації Криму - з лютого по грудень 2014 року - публікувалися в доповіді, що була представлена у Вашингтоні 6 березня 2015 року.
Перший варіант «Стратегії повернення Кри-му» (далі - Стратегія) розроблявся з розрахунком на її використання вищими органами державної влади України. Однак, цей розрахунок не було виправдано або виправдано фрагментарно і в дуже малій частці.
Ескалація ядерного протистояння США та Росії у контексті російсько- українськ...Майдан Закордонних Справ
Повний текст доповіді "Ескалація ядерного протистояння США та Росії у контексті російсько- української війни"
Автор: Олексій Куроп'ятник, експерт фонду "Майдан закордонних справ
Ескалація ядерного протистояння США та Росії у контексті російсько- українсь...Майдан Закордонних Справ
"Ескалація ядерного протистояння США та Росії
у контексті російсько- української війни"
Автор: Олексій Куроп'ятник, експерт фонду "Майдан закордонних справ"
«Стратегия возвращения Крыма» — это стратегический проект «Майдана иностранных дел», который рассматривает все сферы влияния на «действующую власть» Крыма для того, чтобы выявить возможности для возвращения Крыма в состав Украины.
Майдан закордонних справ презентував дослідження, проведене спільно з соціологічною службою Центру Разумкова з 31 травня по 5 червня 2014 року. Було опитано 2001 респондента віком від 18 років у всіх регіонах України за винятком Криму за вибіркою, що репрезентує доросле населення за основними соціально-демографічними показниками. Вибірка опитування будувалася як багатоступенева, випадкова із квотним відбором респондентів на останньому етапі. Теоретична похибка вибірки (без врахування дизайн-ефекту) не перевищує 2,3% з імовірністю 0,95.
What is the point of small housing associations.pptxPaul Smith
Given the small scale of housing associations and their relative high cost per home what is the point of them and how do we justify their continued existance
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
Russian anarchist and anti-war movement in the third year of full-scale warAntti Rautiainen
Anarchist group ANA Regensburg hosted my online-presentation on 16th of May 2024, in which I discussed tactics of anti-war activism in Russia, and reasons why the anti-war movement has not been able to make an impact to change the course of events yet. Cases of anarchists repressed for anti-war activities are presented, as well as strategies of support for political prisoners, and modest successes in supporting their struggles.
Thumbnail picture is by MediaZona, you may read their report on anti-war arson attacks in Russia here: https://en.zona.media/article/2022/10/13/burn-map
Links:
Autonomous Action
http://Avtonom.org
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
http://Avtonom.org/abc
Solidarity Zone
https://t.me/solidarity_zone
Memorial
https://memopzk.org/, https://t.me/pzk_memorial
OVD-Info
https://en.ovdinfo.org/antiwar-ovd-info-guide
RosUznik
https://rosuznik.org/
Uznik Online
http://uznikonline.tilda.ws/
Russian Reader
https://therussianreader.com/
ABC Irkutsk
https://abc38.noblogs.org/
Send mail to prisoners from abroad:
http://Prisonmail.online
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c5nSOdU48O8
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/libertarianlifecoach/episodes/Russian-anarchist-and-anti-war-movement-in-the-third-year-of-full-scale-war-e2k8ai4
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
The Situation in the Annexed Crimea and the De-Occupation Strategy
1. The Situation in the Annexed Crimea
and the De-Occupation Strategy
The Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Areas of Ukraine –
Crimea and Areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions
The Annual Report Overview
Kyiv, December, 2015
2. 2
History of the conflict
and its escalation, forms
of aggressionand military invasion
Political preferences were not the main reason for
the annexation of the Crimea (the local
parliament, elected in 2012, included only 3
deputies out of 100 who represented the pro-
Russian movements and organizations).
A fear of ethnic and interreligious conflicts has
been artificially enforced by the Russian
propaganda within a short period of time as the
active phase of the annexation plan was being
implemented (in winter 2014); this fear was an
additional factor that reinforced the overall
concerns of the citizens.
The main propaganda messages directed towards
the citizens of Ukraine from the Russian side
covered the issues of the "quality of life" and
"quality of government" (the media has created an
illusion of greater efficiency of the Russian
authorities compared to the Ukrainian ones, and of
the readiness of the Russian state to ensure the
better socio-economic life conditions without any
efforts made by the citizens of Ukraine).
Invasion Scenario:
1. Presence of the Russian citizens, including the
military personnel from the intelligence agencies,
primarily from the Main Intelligence Directorate
of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of
the Russian Federation. Together with the pro-
Russian activists among the local residents and
citizens of Ukraine, they organized rallies, fights,
mass disturbances, and violent confrontations with
patriotic citizens.
2. A premeditated escalation used as an excuse for
creating the self-defense units that include both
local residents and the Russian citizens infiltrated
specifically for such purposes.
3. In the Eastern Ukraine, these units seized
administrative buildings and paralyzed the activity
of the state bodies, which in turn stepped away
from solving problems, and in some cases
supported anti-state actions. In Crimea, the self-
defense units were a cover-up that was covering
the covert actions of special units of the army of
the Russian Federation. They were the ones who
seized the government agencies and blocked
military units of the Ukrainian army.
4. Establishment of the pseudo governments that
took over the responsibility over the management
of the occupied territories. The mentioned pseudo
governments imitated a freedom of expression
which was used as justification or explanation of
the aggression.
The inability or unwillingness of the legitimate
authorities to take measures for a quick and
decisive suppression of these trends, an attempt to
calm down the protesters or aggressors was
regarded as weakness, encouraged the aggressor,
demoralized the supporters.
Corruption, common business interests of the
local and central authorities with the relevant
public and private bodies of the aggressor state
were actively used as mechanisms for influencing
and compromising the political will for resistance.
The annexation of Crimea has become the first
case of invasion of the territory in Europe since
the Second World War. The mentioned situation
calls into question the existence or the
effectiveness of international law and the
international security guarantees, thus threatening
the existing world order.
3. 3
The Current State of Affairs
A "hot phase" of the armed conflict in the Eastern
Ukraine is still ongoing. However, the so-called
Minsk agreements do not function as a ceasefire
mechanism, do not lead to the establishment of
sustainable peace and do not provide a solution to
the problem of the territorial integrity restoration
of Ukraine.
The escalation phases coincide with the
international negotiations on peace-settlement
(they are effectively used by Russia as a tool of
pressure on negotiating parties).
The occupied areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk
regions suffered from a large-scale destruction of
the infrastructure and residential buildings
resulting from the combat operations.
An industrial infrastructure was partially
destroyed, plundered and transported to Russia (in
particular, defense enterprises were completely
dismantled and transported to Russia). The current
condition of the industrial infrastructure does not
allow to predict a possibility of the restoration of
the pre-war regional economy structure and,
consequently, of the social structure of the
population. About 2.5 million people (about the
third of the overall number of inhabitants), mainly
the most educated and active part of the society,
became forced migrants and refugees.
Prospects for resolving the situation in the East of
Ukraine (the problem of "specific areas of
Donetsk and Lugansk regions") are uncertain.
Forced migrants and political fugitives from
Crimea (about 40 thousand people) represented
the most active and loyal citizens of Ukraine.
In general, the public mood in Crimea can be
described as follows:
At the beginning of the Crimean occupation
the residents were
fully satisfied with the Ukrainian legal
liberalism,
not satisfied with quality of life,
not satisfied with the quality of government.
As a result of occupation, as for now the
residents of Crimea
have not received the improvement of the
quality of government, it actually deteriorated,
have not got better quality of life, it actually
deteriorated,
have lost Ukrainian legal liberalism.
A phase of adaptation to the law of the occupying
country in Crimea is over, and a process of
reclamation of the assets of the annexed territory
is ongoing- this process can be described as
colonization.
Replacement or "dilution" of the Crimean
population is taking place - "the import of the
Russians", including the military personnel and
their families, officers of the intelligence agencies
and their families, officials and their family
members, members of the Russian organized
crime groups from the North Caucasian regions of
Russia, is still ongoing. Thus, according to the
official Russian statistics, the increase of number
of the Russian immigrants in Sevastopol during
the occupation was about 25,000 people, or about
7% of the population. In the rest of Crimea, this
rate is somewhat lower - 10 thousand people, or
0.5% of the population.
The occupying authorities are developing Crimea
mainly as a military base. The number of troops is
about 50 thousand people, not including the
members of the security agencies. The
development process and increase of the military
4. 4
grouping has not yet been completed; however,
according to the objectives defined by the
Minister of Defense of Russia, the number of
Russian troops in Crimea can be increased to 100-
120 thousand people.
The invaders turned the Crimea to a rehabilitation
center for the militants fighting in the east of
Ukraine. Training camps for training of the
mercenaries later directed to fight against the
Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk and
Lugansk regions have been established in Crimea.
Crimea has become a basic center of support of
the Russian military grouping in Syria.
Forming a powerful military base in Crimea,
Russia threatens both the southern regions of
Ukraine and the existing Black Sea naval
communications, as well as the European
countries - NATO member-states (Bulgaria,
Romania, and Turkey).
The road infrastructure in the occupied territories
has been fully or largely destroyed. During the
period of the Crimean occupation, the loading of
the roadbed had been increased in tens of times,
primarily owing to the movement of large
numbers of heavy military vehicles (armored
vehicles, tanks and other heavy equipment).
Intensive military building in Crimea led to
accelerated destruction of roads. All programs of
the road construction of Russia in Crimea turned
to be a usual "patching work" of a very poor
quality.
The Crimean economic assets are being stolen or
lose their capacity. Railways, ports are not
actually used.
Without proper irrigation, the agricultural soils
lose their fertility, while their salinity is
increasing. Natural resources of Crimea are being
destroyed. The unscrupulous extraction of the
fresh underground water has led to the raise of
saline groundwater level in some areas (Kerch
Peninsula), leading to increase of the soil salinity;
furthermore, it complicates the water supply to the
population.
Given the intense military building, the occupants
increase the volume of the quarry mines
development, and open up the new quarries for
gravel extraction, which can result in destruction
of the microclimate, e.g. in the valleys of the
Bakhchisarai area (Alma Valley).
The situation with the quality of life in Crimea has
developed in such a way that under systematic
reduction of employment (according to our
calculations, since the annexation about 200
thousand jobs, primarily in tourism, restaurant and
hotel business, services, small business and
transport, have been lost), the available vacancies
are not filled. Today there are 2,000 vacancies of
municipal officials in Crimea, as well as a large
number of jobs in health care; generally, it is
difficult to fill the vacancies of ordinary
employees in the business structures.
Humanitarian situation, human
rights in Crimea
Today, the citizens of Ukraine residing in the
temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea are actually deprived of a
number of fundamental rights and the possibility
of their protection, particularly by drawing
attention of international human rights
organizations to their problems.
Forcing citizens of Ukraine to join Russian
citizenship is one of the tools for invasion of the
occupied territory by Russia (the owners of the
Ukrainian passports are deprived of the
opportunity of education, medical services,
5. 5
immovable property registration, obtaining
utilities, employment, etc.).
For some categories of the citizens of Ukraine, the
renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship was
delivered as an ultimatum (employees and
personnel of certain commercial structures, such
as Ukrtelecom, etc.).
The aggressor is implementing a large-scale
program of forcing the residents of Crimea to
loyalty. Potentially disloyal persons are
considered to be:
journalists, civil activists, members of NCA
(national competent authority), whose
organizations and the media were created
prior to the occupation;
Crimean Tatar people in general, members of
the autonomous bodies of the Crimean Tatar
people (Kurultai, Medzhylis, 230 regional
Medzhylis offices), clerical leaders of the
Muslims (mainly of Crimean Tatars);
ethnic Ukrainians or persons of different
ethnic origin with Ukrainian political identity,
including religious leaders and members of
religious communities of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate,
Catholics, Greek Catholics (both Ukrainians
and immigrants from Poland, Belarus, the
Baltic States).
The Crimean Tatars are put to systematic pressure
as the most cohesive community that openly
expressed its opposition to the occupation of
Crimea by the Russian Federation.
The number of secret services employees per
capita in Crimea is 3 times higher than the similar
rate for the rest of Russia. Methods of their work
are intimidation, total control of telephone calls,
Internet communication, and “brainwashing”
through the media, accusations, separation of
certain groups of citizens on ethnic or religious
grounds.
Activists or citizens disloyal to Russia are called
in for many-hours-long interrogations, "preventive
interrogations", searches are carried out in their
homes, raids are carried out in the areas of
compact settlement of the Crimean Tatars, the
troops block the certain localities or settlements,
the authorities organize deportation from Crimea,
exclusions, criminal prosecution based on
fabricated evidence and false accusations,
kidnapping, murders.
The State authorities of Russia have developed the
whole arsenal of intimidation methods in the
Republic of Ichkeria and other regions of the
North Caucasus.
Despite the declared trilingualism in Crimea
(Russian, Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar) invaders not
only eradicate the Ukrainian language, but in
general any mention of Ukraine. There are
reported cases of public burning of books,
schoolbooks, plates and inscriptions in the
Ukrainian language in front of the students, the
Ukrainian schools and classes are being closed
down.
Russia makes active efforts to establish
"information ghettos" on the Crimean peninsula,
in which citizens of Ukraine will be deprived of
the opportunity to receive information from
Ukraine. These efforts include a complete
cessation of Ukrainian TV and radio channels
broadcasting, disconnection of the Ukrainian
mobile operators and internet service providers.
Today all independent media maintaining pro-
Ukrainian position ceased their existence and
work in the Crimea (either disbanded or moved
from the Crimea to other regions of Ukraine).
This particularly has the impact on the online
media, since the Ukrainian legislation did not
require their registration, although they are
equivalent to the print media under the laws of the
Russian Federation.
6. 6
As of today, the only propaganda media spread in
Crimea has an openly pro-Russian orientation.
On 9 May 2014, the Russian Federation has
introduced the amendment to the Criminal Code,
which provides for a penalty of imprisonment
from 3 to 5 years for journalists and ordinary
citizens for disagreeing with the fact that Crimea
belongs to Russia or for calls for its return to
Ukraine (Public calls to commit actions aimed at
violating the territorial integrity of the Russian
Federation). Criminal procedures under the
relevant article are initiated both against the
citizens of Ukraine and the Ukrainian media that
operate in the mainland Ukraine, and are likely to
be used for the persecution at the international
level.
The Russian authorities have eliminated the
possibility of monitoring the compliance with
human rights. Independent international human
rights organizations in the occupied territories are
not allowed to implement such monitoring.
Instead, the Russian authorities are actively
working to organize visits of international
delegations and media to Crimea for propaganda
purposes.
Actions of the occupying power related to
implementation of property rights are marked by
massive violations of rules and practices accepted
in the civilized world. There is a massive
expropriation of all the state property of Ukraine
in the territory of Crimea, which is called the
"nationalization" by the Russian propaganda.
More than 400 companies have been expropriated,
and the list is constantly growing. This list
includes over 200 resorts, all the ports, including
the airport, water and energy supply facilities,
railways, wineries, grain elevators and agricultural
enterprises.
The objects that belonged to Ukraine or to the
trade unions and other public organizations, as
well as to the higher education institutions and the
Academy of Sciences etc., have also been
expropriated.
As for the private enterprises, their formal
expropriation was not carried out. However, there
are schemes of raider takeovers and changes in a
company management board that have been
implemented. The "Crimean self-defense" units
are used as a component of the forcible takeover
in the course of such actions. An information
component includes distribution of false
information through the media on the bankruptcy
or financial problems of such companies, on the
large debts they have, and such justifications call
for their "nationalization". Such schemes are
currently applied selectively to those owners who
support the idea of territorial integrity of Ukraine
and oppose the occupation.
What happens next?
Developments in Eastern Ukraine are hard to
predict because the hot phase of the conflict is still
ongoing. Russia as a state-aggressor has sufficient
resources to continue military actions, its probable
political purposes in Ukraine and in Europe have
not been achieved, the means of influence on
Russia, such as international sanctions, just begin
to influence the Russian economy and the political
will of the leadership of the Russian Federation to
continue the aggression, but their duration in time
is uncertain.
In Crimea, the main trends affecting the current
developments are as follows:
1. The main priority is to develop a territory as a
military base
Consequences:
Posing threat to security of the Black Sea
region, the EU Member States and NATO
(Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey), change of
the military balance, namely within the
framework of the Agreement on Conventional
Armed Forces in Europe, and possibly within
the framework of the agreements in the field
of strategic nuclear weapons control;
persistent military threat to the entire southern
coast of Ukraine with the purpose to
implement the plan of setting up a land
"corridor" between the Russian Federation,
Crimea and Transnistria, militarization of the
region, expansion of the Russian military
7. 7
presence in Syria and the consequent armed
confrontation and civil war in that country;
Further enforcement of the policy of "forced
loyalty" towards the inhabitants of the
Crimea, which will lead to further violation of
the human rights (the pressure on dissidents,
on disloyal groups of population),
strengthening control over the media;
Implementation of strategic infrastructure
building projects - a bridge across the Kerch
Strait, the energy bridge;
The need to increase supply of building
materials and equipment (primarily the metal,
timber, construction mixes, crushed stone),
which will lead to increased pressure on the
road infrastructure and increased use of local
natural resources, which, in turn, results in
poor climatic balance in the number of sub-
regions of Crimea.
2. Lack of economic development strategy, lack
of managerial human resources
Consequences:
A trend towards reducing the number of small
and medium-sized enterprises (the set priority is
to develop and support the large companies,
mainly in the defense sector); unemployment
growth; reduction of the tax capacity in the
region, increase of dependence on directfunding
from the federal budget of Russia. Redirection
of the budget financial flows in Russia,
financing deficit in other regions of the Russian
Federation, concealed contradictions and
competition for obtaining a funding between
different regions of the Russian Federation;
Decrease of the standard of living; decrease of
the consumer purchasing power of the
population (increase of prices, fewer choice for
consumers, lowering of the quality of food);
increase of the social stratification and
increasing differencesin living standards among
the citizens funded by the state/federal/regional
budgets, and self-employed people and
employees of commercial structures; gradual
growth of social tension;
Continuation of policy of the excessive use of
infrastructure and natural resources,
environmental degradation - changing of the
climatic balance, loss of underground fresh
water deposits, lowering of fertility, of the
quality of agricultural lands, the gradual
reduction of their area. As a result, lowering of
the ability of Crimea to ensure the self-sustained
food security.
3. Continuation of the trend towards resettlements
of the citizens with simultaneous degradation of
democratic institutions, human rights and
freedoms, increase of corruption and
criminalization of a daily life.
At the same time, Ukraine is going to gradually
expand the policy of Peninsula blockade, trying to
create enforcement mechanismsto engage Russia in
the dialogue on the annexation. Furthermore,
Ukraine will be working on the creation of
mechanisms for establishing the communications
with the population of Crimea (information
disseminating channels, definition of the legalstatus,
creation of opportunities to exercise the rights and
protect the interests of the citizens in the territory of
Ukraine, definition of the status of self-government
bodies of the Crimean Tatarpeople and Crimeans on
the whole, support of their activities).
8. 8
This presentation is a summary of the annual report of Maidan of Foreign Affairs Foundation on
Situation in Annexed Crimea And Deoccupation Strategy.
The full text of report is available here: http://mfaua.org/2015/12/03/eng-link/?lang=en
* * *
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both an expert and a civil society platformfor shaping Ukrainian foreign and national security policy
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