B Block
A Peninsula’s Betrayal: The Crimea, A History of Russian Loyalty
2014 marked the beginning of the Crimean Crisis. The Crimea, a small Peninsula near the Black sea, chose to succeed from the Ukraine and was annexed by Russia. The Crimean parliament displayed a near total support for joining the Federation of Russia, with approximately 97% of voters backing the motion.1 The Crimea has been apart of the Ukraine since 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, yet the population continues to display strong loyalist ideals towards Russia. The current Russian-loyalist political stance the Crimea was shaped by Russia freeing the Crimean's from centuries of oppression and slavery under Ottoman occupation, as well as the Russian influence and culture that developed in the region following that.
The Crimean Khanate, which was a Vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, occupied the small Peninsula of the Crimea from 1478 until 17742, when it was annexed by Russia. Historically, the Crimean people are of Slavic descent and were ruled by the Khanate as a result of Meñli I Giray’s victory over the Golden Horde, which ceased any other nation’s claims to the Crimea3. This victory marked the beginning of a long period of oppression for those native to the Crimea. The leader in charge of the Crimea was appointed by the Ottoman Empire and exercised control over the Peninsula with the Ottoman leader having ultimate Veto power. As a result, the Ottoman Empire as well as the Quran heavily influenced the law in which the Slavic people of the Crimea lived under. This is where the first feelings of oppression arose in the Slavic people living in the Crimea. As a result of military action, they were under the rule of people whom were of a different religion and nationality. They were required to follow laws and taxes that were imposed by foreigners, that did not reflect their own customs at all. This created a sense of disloyalty to their rulers and left the