Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Five signs of less than universal Russian approbation of Crimean Anschluss

Russians protesting Putin's Crimean Anschluss in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 16, 2017 (Image: ixtc.org)
Russians protesting Putin’s Crimean Anschluss in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 16, 2017 (Image: ixtc.org)
Edited by: A. N.

Today, on the third anniversary of Putin’s Crimean Anschluss, the Russian government is orchestrating demonstrations across Russia in support of that action. But there are five signs that popular support for “Crimea is Ours” is far from universal:

  • First, in St. Petersburg, supporters of the rights of Crimean Tatars held their monthly meeting to denounce Russian mistreatment of that minority on the Ukrainian peninsula since the occupation.
  • Second, students at Moscow State University organized a small protest against the Russian annexation and occupation of Crimea despite pressure on them to take part in pro-annexation meetings.
  • Third, Kazan did not have a mass meeting in support of the annexation this year unlike in the last two because in the words of one Tatarstan official: “Crimea now is not part of the information agenda of Tatarstan” (cf. confirmation of this in the comments of Kazan residents).
  • Fourth, the leaders of numerous Cossack communities announced that they were refusing to take part in these celebrations just as they had earlier refused to take part in Russia’s military annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula.
  • And fifth, Vladimir Putin didn’t appear at any of these festivities, an unusual absence given his earlier talk about the “sacred” meaning of Crimea for Russia and Russians. His failure to appear casts doubt on the value of Crimea for his electoral chances.

 

Edited by: A. N.
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts