Putin says Crimea not annexed by Russia, it was 'reunified'
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 17 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Putin says Crimea not annexed by Russia, it was 'reunified', 17 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58189db0a.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 17, 2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow did not annex the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 but claimed it was "reunified" with Russia.
Putin said at a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in the Kyrgyz capital on September 16 that actions by the Ukrainian government were the "root cause" for what happened to Crimea.
"Russia did not annex anything," he said, in response to comments made by Ukrainian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Mikolay Doroshenko. "Whatever happened with Crimea is the result of unlawful actions of certain political forces in Ukraine who had brought the situation to a state coup."
Moscow forcibly annexed Crimea shortly after thousands of unmarked Russian soldiers landed on the peninsula in early 2014.
The action was widely condemned by many Western countries and in an overwhelming vote by the UN General Assembly.
Doroshenko, who represented Ukraine at the CIS summit in Bishkek, raised objections to two items on the bloc's agenda, including handing the CIS presidency to Russia because he said Moscow's annexation of Crimea had breached international laws.
Along with Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, the takeover of Crimea led to economic sanctions from several Western countries and the EU against Russia.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
