2014 Crimean status referendum

Colored dice with checkered background
A polling station for the status referendum (top); masked Russian soldiers occupying Crimea during the status referendum (bottom).
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Crimea
Autonomous Republic of Crimea
(within Ukraine, 1991–present)
Republic of Crimea
(territory occupied by Russia 2014–present)
See also
Political status of Crimea
Politics of Russia • Politics of Ukraine

The Crimean status referendum of 2014 was a disputed referendum[1][2] on March 16, 2014, concerning the status of Crimea that was conducted in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (both subdivisions of Ukraine) after Russian forces seized control of Crimea.[3]

The referendum was held amidst Russia's annexation of Crimea.[4][5] The referendum asked voters whether they wanted to rejoin Russia as a federal subject, or if they wanted to restore the 1992 Crimean constitution and Crimea's status as a part of Ukraine. The final date and ballot choices were set only ten days before the referendum was held. Before, during and after the referendum was proclaimed, the Crimean peninsula saw Russian soldiers take over public buildings and Ukrainian military installations.[4] When the referendum was proclaimed, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People called for a boycott of the referendum.[6][7]

The official result from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was a 97 percent vote for integration of the region into the Russian Federation, with an 83 percent voter turnout, and from Sevastopol there was also a 97 percent vote for integration with Russia, with an 89 percent voter turnout.[a]

The March 16 referendum's available choices did not include keeping the status quo of Crimea and Sevastopol as they were at the moment the referendum was held. The 1992 constitution accords greater powers to the State Council of Crimea, including full sovereign powers to establish relations with other states; therefore, many Western and Ukrainian commentators argued that both provided referendum choices would result in de facto separation from Ukraine.[8][9][10]

Following the referendum, the State Council of Crimea and Sevastopol City Council declared the independence of the Republic of Crimea from Ukraine and requested to join the Russian Federation.[11] On the same day, Russia recognized the Republic of Crimea as a sovereign state.[12][13][14]

The referendum was illegal under the Constitution of Ukraine.[15] It is not recognized by most countries,[16] usually because of the presence of Russian forces.[17] Thirteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a resolution declaring the referendum invalid, but Russia vetoed it and China abstained.[18][19] A United Nations General Assembly resolution was later adopted, by a vote of 100 in favor vs. 11 against with 58 abstentions, which declared the referendum invalid and affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity.[17]

  1. ^ "Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'". BBC News. March 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Disputed Crimea Referendum Sees 96.8 Percent Vote to Join Russia". NBC News. March 17, 2014.
  3. ^ "Putin reveals secrets of Russia's Crimea takeover plot". BBC News. March 9, 2015.
  4. ^ a b How Russia Took Crimea Archived January 22, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Macias, Amanda (2015). Business Insider. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  5. ^ Putin Admits Russian Forces Were Deployed to Crimea Archived April 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Reuters (2014). Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ukrinform.ua was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Tatar leader: referendum's results 'predetermined'". DW.DE. March 16, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  8. ^ Saideman, Stephen (March 12, 2014). "In Crimea's sham referendum, all questions lead to 'yes'". Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2017. ... voters in Crimea next Sunday will be asked whether they support the union of Crimea with Russia (an act of irredentism) or whether Crimea should be independent (secession). There is no alternative – one cannot vote for the status quo ante of remaining within Ukraine.
  9. ^ "2 Choices in Crimea Referendum, but Neither Is 'No'". The New York Times. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  10. ^ Oliphant, Roland (March 16, 2014). "Crimeans vote peacefully in referendum, but have little choice". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  11. ^ Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia Archived April 5, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, BBC, March 17, 2014
  12. ^ "Executive Order on recognising Republic of Crimea". en.kremlin.ru. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S., EU set sanctions as Putin recognizes Crimea "sovereignty"". Reuters. March 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Putin Recognizes Crimea Secession, Defying the West". The New York Times. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference International Law was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ The Crimea Crisis – An International Law Perspective Archived December 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Marxsen, Christian (2014). Max-Planck-Institut. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "U.N. General Assembly Affirms Ukraine's Territorial Integrity, Calls The World Community Not To Recognise Change Of Crimea's Status". Ukrainian News Agency. March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  18. ^ "Security Council Fails to Adopt Text Urging Member States Not to Recognize Planned 16 March Referendum in Ukraine's Crimea Region". Un.org. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  19. ^ Chappell, Bill (March 15, 2014). "Russia Vetoes U.N. Security Council Resolution On Crimea". NPR. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.


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