Russia. Crimea. History. Nikolay Starikov

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СКАЧАТЬ a hysteria – Russia assaulted a Ukrainian army, blood was shed![126] Afterwards, some Russian media published a detailed description of the incident and the hysteria came to naught. Historians of the future will tell how many subversive group were neutralized during these historical days. However, one such group has not unfortunately been neutralized on time – as the result the price of the accession of Crimea to Russia is two human lives[127]. They are – a volunteer from Volgograd Ruslan Kazakov[128], and a Ukrainian trooper Sergey Kokurin, killed by the same sniper. Russian names, Russian family names – from both sides. Nothing gives us understand more explicitly, how nominal are the boundaries, which have split one great nation…

      21 March 2014. Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Constitutional Law about the accession of Crimea into the Russian Federation and about the formation of two new subjects of Federation – the Republic of Crimea and a City of Federal subordination Sevastopol. Together with the law, Putin has approved the ratification of the Agreement on the accession of Crimean Republic into the Russian Federation and the formation within the Russian Federation of new subjects. Simultaneously a decree on the establishment of the Crimean Federal District was signed[129].

      The feelings of Russian citizens at those days can be best of all described by the words of Alexander Vassilievich Suvorov: “I am Russian! What a delight!”

      18 March 2014. The President of Russia addressed in Kremlin a speech to the deputies of the State Duma, to the members of the Council of Federation, to the heads of the regions of the country and civil society representatives in connection of the appeal of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol for admission to the Russian Federation. This speech is very unusual[130]. This speech of Vladimir Putin is, perhaps, one of the best in his entire career. The head of our state spoke very clearly, resolute, colorful and – what is very important – very fair and square. It was possible to summarize the provisional outcome of that struggle on the territory of Ukraine, which was imposed on us by the West by funding and masterminding the coup d’état in Kiev. The Treaty of the accession of Crimea into Russia was signed, “the Crimean round” Russia won clearly. However, ahead we have hard and painstaking work on returning onto the orbit of the Russian world of the people of Ukraine. Those people, who were for two decades exposed to aggressive media attacks and who were brought up in the spirit of Russo phobia and hatred toward our common historical homeland[131].

      Let us quote here the most brilliant moments, when the head of Russia has spoken out, what was deep in hearts of all Russian people, when he explained why we have been always perceiving Crimea as a part of our country.

      “Everything in Crimea speaks of our shared history and pride. This is the location of ancient Chersoneses, where Prince Vladimir was baptized. His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture, civilization and human values that unite the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The graves of Russian soldiers whose bravery brought Crimea into the Russian empire in 1783 are also in Crimea. This is also Sevastopol – a legendary city with an outstanding history, a fortress that serves as the birthplace of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Crimea is Balaklava and Kerch, Malakhov Kurgan and Sapun Ridge. Each one of these places is dear to our hearts, symbolizing Russian military glory and outstanding valor”.

      “In people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia. This firm conviction is based on truth and justice and was passed from generation to generation, over time, under any circumstances, despite all the dramatic changes our country went through during the entire 20th century”.

      “Now, many years later, I heard residents of Crimea say that back in 1991 they were handed over like a sack of potatoes. This is hard to disagree with. And what about the Russian state? What about Russia? It humbly accepted the situation. This country was going through such hard times then that realistically it was incapable of protecting its interests. However, the people could not reconcile themselves to this outrageous historical injustice. All these years, citizens and many public figures came back to this issue, saying that Crimea is historically Russian land and Sevastopol is a Russian city”.

      “I would like to reiterate that I understand those who came out on Maidan with peaceful slogans against corruption, inefficient state management and poverty. The right to a peaceful protest, democratic procedures, and elections exist for the sole purpose of replacing the authorities that do not satisfy the people. However, those who stood behind the latest events in Ukraine had a different agenda: they were preparing yet another government takeover; they wanted to seize power and would stop short of nothing. They resorted to terror, murder and riots. Nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites executed this coup. They continue to set the tone in Ukraine to this day… There was a whole series of controlled “color” revolutions. Clearly, the people in those nations, where these events took place, were sick of tyranny and poverty, of their lack of prospects; but these feelings were taken advantage of cynically… As a result, instead of democracy and freedom, there was chaos, outbreaks in violence and a series of upheavals. The Arab Spring turned into the Arab Winter”.

      …So, this way Crimea has come home. And besides, the reunification with Russia was held so instantly and so delicately that our geopolitical opponents simply did not have time to realize what is going on. The USA organized and supported the coup in Ukraine in order to expel the Russian navy from the Black Sea. To make the Black Sea coast a “Russia-free” zone. The West wanted to “rewind” history – to return to the times of the Crimean Khanate and Turkish reign. To void and cancel deeds of Catherine the Great, under whose reign in 1783, Crimea became a part of our state. But everything turned out differently.

      Nevertheless, we agreed to go along the river of time in reverse way. In the opposite direction. Now it is time to recall those dreadful for Russia times, when not only Crimea but also Ukraine itself left our big common home. We are coming back to 1991. Without this story, we will not be able to understand the degree of the enthusiasm of people of Crimea, who have now came back to Russia after two decades of the “forced emigration”…

      Chapter 2

      1991–2013: Crimea Breaks Off

      On December 8, 1991 in the Bialowieza Forest near Brest leaders of three union republics signed a death sentence to the Soviet Union. Did they have the right to take such an action on behalf of the entire USSR? Of course, not. Neither legally, nor morally. After all the All-Union referendum, which took place on March 17, 1991, showed that, the majority of USSR citizens (77.85 %) voted for the preservation of the single state[132]. However, it didn’t stop Shushkevich, Kravchuk and Yeltsin. The operation to destroy the Soviet Union as well as the whole country ran its course.

      “A very important event took place in our country today. And I want to inform you personally before you know it from the press”, – Yeltsin reported this to US President George HW Bush right after he signed the documents. “Mr. President, I was quite open with you today. Four of our countries believe that there is only one possible way out of the present critical situation. We do not want to do anything in secret – we will immediately make the statement to the press. We hope for your understanding. Dear George, I’ve finished. It is vitally important. According to the established tradition between us, I can’t stand even 10 minutes without giving you a call”, – Bush quotes the conversation in his book entitled “The world transformed”.[133]

      The negotiations held between the three conspirators, who played an active role in ruining of the Soviet Union, will hardly ever be discovered. Even today, when two of the three Bialowiezian authors are still alive, the СКАЧАТЬ