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The Peninsula Of Crimea Is Illegal Under International Law

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The peninsula of Crimea has historically been occupied by many different empires and states since Antiquity, the most recent inhabitants have been Russians and Ukrainians who are currently embroiled in conflict over the peninsula’s sovereignty. The peninsula’s demographics as of 2014 consist of: 65.3% Russians, 15.7% Ukrainians, 10.6% Crimean Tatars and approximately 6.8% other minorities according to a census taken. As of the time this essay was written, Russia has annexed the Crimean Peninsula and administers it as two federal subjects: the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia, however, opposes the term “annexation” by Western states and claims that Russia is merely complying with self-determination for the ethnic Russians living within the peninsula. Ukraine, as well as most Western powers, claim that Russia’s annexation of the Crimea is illegal under international law and asserts that numerous treaties have been broken as a result, such as: Agreement on Establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991, the Helsinki Accords, Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, the United Nations Charter and a treaty of cooperation and friendship with Ukraine signed in 1997. As a result of the move by Russia, the United Nations General Assembly voted the annexation as illegal and the G8 have temporarily suspended Russia from the group and issued sanctions against Russia. Reactions also ranged as far as comparing the instance to the Nazi seizure

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