Global Research

Russia and Crimea have signed treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol in the Russian Federation following President Putin’s address to the Parliament. Crimea and Sevastopol are joining Russia as two separate regions, President Putin said.

The agreement will temporarily apply from the signature date and will take effect once ratified. Russia guarantees all peoples inhabiting Crimea and Sevastopol the preservation of their native language and the creation of conditions for learning and developing it, according to the agreement.

The Kremlin said Tuesday that it now considers Crimea part of Russia following the signing of a treaty. According to a report posted on the Kremlin website, “the Republic of Crimea is regarded as accepted in the Russian Federation from the date of the signing” of the relevant treaty.

Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar will be the official languages in Crimea, according to a relevant clause in the agreement between Russia and the Republic of Crimea, which was posted on the Kremlin’s official website.

Elections to Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s government bodies will be held on the second Sunday of September 2015, according to a treaty on Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s accession to the Russian Federation and the formation of new entities within it.

“Elections to the government bodies of the Republic of Crimea and the government bodies of Sevastopol as a city holding federal status shall be held on the second Sunday of September 2015,” says the text of the treaty available on the Kremlin website. Before the elections, the Crimean State Council and Sevastopol’s Legislative Assembly will perform the functions of these government bodies, it says.

The treaty on the inclusion of Crimea in the Russian Federation envisions a transition period, which will last until January 1, 2015.

According to a report posted on the Kremlin website, the purpose of this transition period is to “settle all issues relating to the integration of new regions of Russia [the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol in the economic, financial, credit, and legal systems of Russia, and also in the Russian public administration system.”

“Issues relating to conscription and military service on the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the federal-status city of Sevastopol” will also be resolved during this transition period.

According to a treaty signed by Russia and Crimea on the inclusion of Crimea into Russia, Russian citizens conscripted in Crimea and Sevastopol will serve on the territory of these regions until 2016.

The Ukrainian citizens residing in Crimea become Russian after the signing of an agreement admitting the republic and Sevastopol as parts of Russia, unless they express their wish to retain their current citizenship within a month.

“As of the day of the admission of the Republic of Crimea to Russia and the formation of new Russian constituent regions, the Ukrainian citizens and non-citizens permanently residing in the Republic of Crimea and in the federal city of Sevastopol are recognized as Russian citizens,” according to an agreement on the admission of Crimea and formation as new Russian constituent regions, posted on the Kremlin’s website.

An exception will be made for persons “who within one month from this day express their wish to retain their current (other than Russian) citizenship for themselves and their underage children or to remain persons without citizenship,” the document said.

Delimitation of maritime borders in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov following the Crimea’s joining Russia, will be based on international law.

This is clear from an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Crimea on the Crimea’s joining Russia and on the formation of new constituent members within the Russian Federation, posted on the Kremlin’s website.

“The delimitation of the sea space in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov will be based on Russia’s international agreements and on the norms and principles of international law,” the agreement says.

“The land border of the Republic of the Crimea adjacent to the territory of Ukraine shall be deemed the border of the Russian Federation,” it says. The agreement will be temporarily applied from the date of signing and will enter force from the date of ratification.

Putin asks Federal Assembly to retify agreement on accession of Crimea, Sevastopol to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that parliament pass a bill that accepts Crimea and Sevastopol as parts of Russia.

“I am submitting and asking the Federal Assembly to consider a constitutional bill on accepting two new constituent regions as part of the Russian Federation – the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” Putin said in an address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.

The federal bill is being submitted based on the result of the Crimean referendum and its people’s will, Putin said.

“The political decision is up to Russia itself, it can only be based on the people’s will. Only the people are its source of power,” the Russian president said.

Russia doesn’t seek further split of Ukraine – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia does not want a division of Ukraine and Crimea will stay Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar.

“I want you to hear me, dear friends. Don’t believe those who scare you with Russia, who are shouting that other regions will follow Crimea. We don’t want a division of Ukraine. We don’t need that,” Putin said in the Kremlin on Tuesday.

“As for Crimea, it has always been and it will remain Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar,” Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly.

Putin expects German citizens to support aspiration of Russian world for restoring unity

Germany, whose unification Russia has supported, will also approve the aspiration of the Russian world to restore unity, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his appeal to the Russian Federal Assembly on Tuesday.

“I believe that Europeans, firstly Germans, will understand me,” the president said. During the political consultations on the unification of East Germany and West Germany “at expert, but very high levels, representatives of not all countries, who were Germany’s allies, supported the very idea of unification,” Putin said.

“Our country, on the contrary, supported explicitly and sincerely the aspiration of Germans for national unity,” he said.

“I am certain that you have not forgotten this and I count that German citizens will support the aspiration of the Russian world and historical Russia to restore unity,” Putin said.

Russia is also grateful to China and India for their stance on Ukraine and Crimea, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his appeal to the Russian Federal Assembly on Tuesday.

“We treat with gratitude everyone, who approached our step in Crimea with understanding. We are grateful to the Chinese people, whose leadership has considered and is considering the situation concerning Ukraine and Crimea in its entire historical and political complexity,” Putin said.

“We highly appreciate India’s constraint and objectivity,” the Russian president said.

Relations with brotherly Ukraine to remain of key importance for Russia – Putin

President Vladimir Putin said relations with Ukraine are of key and fundamental importance for Russia.

“Relations with Ukraine and its fraternal people are and will remain of key and fundamental importance for us. It’s no exaggeration,” Putin told the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.

Putin: Russia hasn’t exceeded maximum number of military personnel in Crimea stipulated in treaties

Russia did not send troops to the Crimea, but only reinforced its grouping within the limits set by an international agreement, said President Vladimir Putin.

“It is true that the Russian president has received the right from the upper house of parliament to use the armed forces in Ukraine. Strictly speaking, the president has not even used this right so far. The Russian military did not enter Crimea. The troops were there already in compliance with an international agreement,” he told the Federal Assembly on Tuesday.

“It is true that we have strengthened our grouping. But I would like to make a point everyone should know and hear: we have not even surpassed the limit of 25,000 troops – the assigned strength of our armed forces in the Crimea. There was just no need in that,” he said.

Crimean referendum fully democratic – Russia’s Putin

The referendum on independence in Crimea was conducted in strict accordance with democratic principles and the international law, President Vladimir Putin told the Federal Assembly, as he was welcomed by a standing ovation. Putin stressed that the results of the referendum, in which more than 82 percent of Crimean residents came to polling stations and more than 96 percent of those voted for rejoining Russia, leave no room for equivocation.

He said the history of Crimea, its cultural, religious and spiritual ties bind it with the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, which explains the attitude Russians have towards the peninsula.

The president said Crimea had dark pages in its past, particularly the persecution of Crimean Tatars and other minorities in the USSR. The authorities of Crimea seek to recompense for those ills.

Crimea to have 3 official languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Tatar – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it is important to ensure the right of all ethnicities in Crimea, including Crimean Tartars, and measures to complete rehabilitation of Crimean Tartars should be taken.

There will be three official languages – Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tartar.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to make a statement on Crimea’s application for accession to the Russian Federation.

Earlier today, Putin has approved draft agreement to accept the Republic of Crimea as a consitutuent entity of the Russian Federation.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday, March 17, signed a degree recognizing the Republic of Crimea as a sovereign and independent state.