Last year, on August 13-14, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea – the second time since Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula in March 2014.
Noted Ukrainian political scientist Vladimir Horbach observed that Mr. Putin had sought to treat his annexation of Crimea as something of almost historical interest beyond any challenge. Thus, Mr. Putin went to the region and spoke with his officials about stressing what he wanted to show as the normalcy of it all.
Mr. Horbach said, “The last actions of the Russian authorities concerning the humanitarian mission to the Donbas or the lifting of annexationist timetables about ‘federalization’ and ‘Novorossiya’ testify that Russia is seeking a path for calming the situation” so as to ensure that Russia will retain Crimea for itself.”
“…If Putin calculates sitting at the negotiating table,” Mr. Horbach added, “then exactly for that purpose he could present himself in the role of a peacemaker. He is correcting his image. Not for nothing did he at the same time play the role of mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
Paul Goble, author of Windows on Eurasia, wrote: “It is important to remember that what Mr. Putin did in Crimea was an illegal act of aggression and occupation. Consequently, it is worth citing the conclusions of the legal advisory group to the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry, which provides the most succinct reasons why Mr. Putin’s claims on Crimea are illegitimate and why the international community, however much some of its leaders would like to look beyond this issue, are required by international law not to.”
The Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry’s legal advisors had stated:
“In light of international law, the incorporation of the Crimean Peninsula (Crimea), which forms part of Ukraine’s territory, into the Russian Federation qualifies as annexation, i.e., the illegal acquisition of the territory of another state be the threat or use of force.
“Consequently, the Russian Federation has violated Ukraine’s rights which enjoy international protection. Moreover, due to the special legal status of the principles of international law that have been violated, the Russian Federation has breached its commitments under law to the entire international community.
“…This community has an international legal obligation not to recognize the illegal situation that has been created by the illegal use of force in the form of armed aggression, and its consequences.”
Source: “Putin’s visit seeks to legitimize Russia’s occupation of Crimea,” by Paul Goble (Windows on Eurasia), August 24, 2014.