News:

The Crimea referendum offered voters the choice of seeking annexation with Russia or remaining in Ukraine with greater autonomy. After 50 percent of the ballots were counted, Mikhail Malishev, head of the referendum committee, said more than 95 percent of voters had approved joining Russia. Russian lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said the annexation could come in as soon as three days, according to Interfax. As soon as the polls closed, the White House again denounced the vote. "The international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence," it said in a statement. (AP 16/03/ 2014) Describing Russia's actions as "dangerous and destabilising", Jay Carney Obama's press secretary condemned the Kremlin for escalating the crisis from a military occupation of Crimea a fortnight ago to carrying out "threatening military exercises on Ukraine's eastern border". He warned its actions would result in "increasing costs". (The Guardian 17/03/2014)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the referendum was conducted in "full accordance with international law and the U.N. charter."

Comment:

With the three major powers in a scramble over the high percentage of people favoring the secession from Ukraine to be annexed to Russia, they are searching for the illegal ground that the elections were based upon.  Many ethnic Russians in Crimea are elated at the idea of returning to the "Motherland". Whereas the Ukrainian prime minister announced the rejection of the elections.  US and Europe leaders are furious at Russia's complete disregard for the threats of sanctions and possible military action to halt any annexation into Russia.

While Russia has offered a tempting financial aid package as enticement to the people of Crimea, one has to speculate the living standards of Russia and its flailing economy. The US was keen to point that out to Putin. However the stakes are much higher for Putin realizing full well the great advantage Crimea offers to Russia from its vital strategic location, gas and oil pipelines transits, and most importantly the land power. Thus it set the tone for the election from the very start, mobilizing a heavy military presence in Crimea especially in critical areas.

But the focus is on Russia and its realization of its vision for a stronger more fortified Russia protecting its capital, strategic location and its vital pipelines from the creeping tentacles of Europe and the United States. The advantage will be for the nation with the highest stakes.  As Russian soldiers were armed openly in the streets of Crimea; it was a visible display of force and power depicting today's foreign policy of major powers. The nation with the stronger show of force gets its policies into play. Despite the cries of condemnation of high ranking officials worldwide, Putin dismissed them with a mere veto at the Security Council and claiming that Crimeans have the right to vote. Putin understands the vulnerable positions of the US and Europe, treating their threats as mere smoke as the two major powers are not in a position to intercede with military otherwise risk spreading themselves too thin. Therefore Russia proceeded to realize its goals taking advantage of the critical time period especially with the various conflicts worldwide. Putin asserted the election was fully legitimate and will start the annexation as quickly as three days.

Lastly the claims by Europe and the US on what is deemed legal versus illegal is an appalling claim as we bear witness to the countless crimes against humanity and complete trampling of nations' sovereignty. Its long rap sheet includes Syria, Central African Republic, Sudan, Pakistan and so on.

Sadly we live in a time of the strongest most brutal being in the position to dictate what is legal and acceptable as opposed to what is illegal and unacceptable all depending on what is at stake.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

By Um Muhanad