Crimea - aggression, invasion or democracy in different colours?

CRIMEA - aggression, invasion or democracy in different colours? 

pic.1 Crimea - Map

As a reader who likes to see facts I would start right to the point.

Crimea - It was part of Russia since 1783 just until 1953 when Soviet leader (Ukrainian born) Nikita Khruschev gave it to Ukrainian SSR (part of the Soviet Union). After USSR's dissolution in 1990, it became part of Ukraine despite there was a move to be returned to Russia due to the majority of the population in Crimea being Russian.
Let's have a look who currently populates Crimea. First group and still a majority is Russian - more than 58% of the population in Crimea, which is approximately 2.1 million in total. Second group are Ukrainians - 24%, then they are Crimean Tatars - 10% and the rest are few other minorities such as Belarussians, Armenians, Jews, Polish, German, Greeks, Bulgarians etc.

In 1997 Ukraine and Russia signed a pact that Russia can use naval facilities in Crimea until 2017, which in 2010 was extended until 2042 and voted with absolute majority in the Ukrainian parliament.

There are other historical facts that connect Crimea very much with Russia. One of them is the city of Sevastopol (bottom left side on Crimean's map from pic1), which holds the symbolical title - Hero City for it's part in the World War II and where every year Red Army holds military parade known as Victory Day parade.

Now that you have a bit more idea of what's Crimea to Russia, let's rewind the events that happened in beginning of 2014 in the capital of Ukraine - Kiev.

After president of the time - Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown during the protests on the Maidan, his place was taken by Petro Poroshenko. Interesting fact is that lawfully, the percentage needed to change the government wasn't reached, which technically made the current government disputed. It was though recognized from the Western Governments. What happens next? One of the first laws, enforced by the new government was to ban the Russian language and break connections with Russia, choosing the path to become part of the European Union. Something that Yanukovych didn't do and gave reason for the anti-government protests in Kiev.Let's think little logically here. If you are an English speaker only, then this ban has no meaning to you, but if you were born in Russian family who happened to live in Crimea, then it is a big deal. It means that in a blink of an eye you can no longer speak your native language, share the cultural and historical traditions of you ancestors, who all of a sudden are known as the "Dark Side" (being a bit of a Star War's fan you will straight away pick the point). Not to mention that when a nationalists parties are already part of the new government, the fear is not just the language you speak. Therefore Crimea burst in massive anti-protests against the new government, the population there was and is pro-russian orientated and it is very logic that they won't break their connections with Russia and wouldn't want to choose Europe over Russia. Here is a YouTube link from a massive rally in Sevastopol, claiming more than 50 000 people attended. For a city that has less than 400 thousands citizens, it is an impressive sight. I've tried to look for other sources from Western Europe regarding this events. Yahoo's news mentioning "hundreds of protesters outside city's council" and shows a video. The Guardian mentions about protest, attended from thousands and bolds to the fact, that decisions to form defence squads were taken. We have to mention the fact that there was no violence spotted or reported during those rallies. Nothing like what earlier happened on the Maidan, where protesters set ablaze Berkut (government special forces or riot police). So now that Crimean pro-russian crowd expect punishment squads to be heading from Kiev, tension started to grow. This is where Putin felt he's losing his grip on the peninsula as events were rapidly evolving. By this time Cremlin already found who may be behind the protests of the Maidan. Putin always stood by his words that Crimea has enormous strategic value for Russian Federation and is connected to Russia not only by land, but also by blood, heart and by history. Being given the reason that protection to the Russian speaking population is needed, "green men" appeared out of nowhere. They wore uniforms with no army signs nor rank insignia nor badges. They didn't tell who they were, where they come from. It was clear they are Russians, they spoke Russian, but whether they were regular army, Spetsnaz (Russian speacial forces) or soldiers from the Russian naval bases in Crimea, it would be just a speculation. Not that it matters that much. They stood outside the Ukrainian military bases and hold everyone in. 

pic.2 Russian soldiers march outside Ukrainian military base

Why did they do this?

Did Putin fear that Kiev may order the army from those bases to quickly extinguish protests before they spread in other areas? 

Did he wanted to seize military control over areas that had high geopolitical and strategic importance for Russia before the people dictating the parade in Kiev did?

Perhaps both. We saw for days those soldiers in green uniforms walking around the bases, some were in the cities around the people. Some people greeted them with hugs and smiles as they were sure those soldiers were there to protect them from possible nationalist's attacks from Kiev.

pic.3 "Polite Green Man" poses for picture with a family, being covered with Russian flag In the bases though tension grew. Some didn't wanted to surrender, others had families camping outside barracks so there won't be any bloodshed. Some military men from Ukraine appeared loyal to Russia and switched sides, like the video from the link, where 60 soldiers joined Russians and left only 50 men back in the barracks (7:54 min from this video- english subtitles)."Polite Green Men" gave an ultimatum for surrendering at the end and all bases were seized by Russian Federation army units. The only fatal incident recorded was the shooting of Ukrainian service man from an 17 years old pro-russian supporter, who was arrested from the authorities. Polite Green Men forced their way into the barracks as some gates were barricaded, but didn't shoot anyone. Western journalists called it "the most peaceful invasion", I agree.

What followed was referendum, which took place in Crimea and as much as 80% of the population voted under international observation. They found no violation during the referendum, yet the media in the West had different opinion. The Guardian screamed: "Crimea's referendum was a sham display of democracy" and advice us to look at a polls before the Ukrainian problems errupted when only 41% of the population in Crimea wanted to join with Russia. I suppose back then they were no laws to ban Russian language nor break up Russia either. Others disputed the referendum which by the way wasn't recognised by EU. I found interesting opinion by member of the European piarlament from Latvia who was observing the voting in Crimea (3:05 min from start). The best way to explain the legitimacy of this referendum has to get back to 2010, when European Court of Justice DID recognize such referendum in Kosovo and separated the territory from Yugoslavia. Double standards? I leave it up to you. I do not want to start an argument and open another page in this blog, but may present you some facts that somehow probably left hidden for you - the hard working man who doesn't have the time to seek the truth himself and trust the media, just because they keep repeating the same thing over and over again, until you give up and just accept it as being told . In my opinion -by recognizing Kosovo, EU opened the Pandora Box - it cannot apply for one, but not for another. 

It's nearly a year from the Russian invasion in Crimea and correct me if I'm wrong, we don't hear much about Crimea no longer. Suddenly the Russian invasion serves no purpose here, therefore seems like business is done. At least for now. Do you explain it with silent Russian terror or Russian democracy if you'd like? Fear from the "polite green men"? I found this video in English following the life of Russians, Ukrainians and Tatars 6 months after Russian annexation of the peninsula. Some live with doubts, some live with fear, most are as never happy as today. At least they live, they have home and nobody is shooting at them. 

Expect soon my new blog page about events in Minsk - the pro-Russian protest that ended in a bloodshed, where protesters were burnt alive from Ukrainian nationalists and that lead to rebellions in the Eastern parts of Ukraine.

http://2001.Ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/nationality/Crimea

http://www.blacksea-crimea.com/history1.html