DISINFO: Crimea was not illegally annexed by Russia
SUMMARY
The claim by Turkish President Erdogan that Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 is totally false and anti-Russian. The people of the peninsula voted freely in a fair referendum to become part of the Russian Federation.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. In June 2021, the European Council decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.
See related disinformation claims alleging that Crimea has never been Ukraine; that Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum; that Crimea "sailed" to Russia forever and the West agrees with it; that seven years ago, Crimea became part of Russia after the referendum.