Archief - Euromaidan - Oekraïne

Apr 29, 1954 Under Khrushchev, the Soviet Union transfers the Crimea from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. This move is done in marking the 300th anniversary of the Pereiaslav Agreement which in large part marked the beginning of Ukrainian subjugation to Muscovite Empire. The official party line has declared this the beginning of the long Russo-Ukrainian friendship.
Feb 1, 1957 - Oct 31, 1961 A series of petition drives gather between 6,000 and 25,000 signatures on petitions to Party and government bodies asking for the full rehabilitation of Crimean rights and repatriation to Crimea for Crimean Tatars.
1962 The league of Crimean Tatar Youth forms in Tashkent and begins to lobby on behalf of their community. The KGB quickly ends the group's activities.
1966 130,000 Crimean Tatars sign an appeal to the Central Committee to protest the treatment they have received since 1945.
1967 The Supreme Soviet of Soviet Union and of Ukraine both remove the condemnation of the Crimean Tatar people clearing the way for very limited migration of Crimean Tatars to Crimea.
Apr 1968 Crimean Tatars in Uzbekistan hold a rally celebrating their national reawakening, but Soviet officials break up the rally.
Jul 31, 1987 Representatives of the Crimean Tatar community meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Gromyko to air grievances. Gromyko agrees to the meeting after some 300 Tatars held an unprecedented 24-hour demonstration near Red Square.
Aug 1987 Police in Uzbekistan reportedly prevent 5,000 Crimean Tatar demonstrators from holding a rally outside Tashkent. Other reports claim that the 5,000 people assembled anyway and were not dispersed.
Jan 1988 Crimean Tatars in Uzbekistan hold a series of protests in Tashkent as well as other Uzbek cities.
Mar 1988 Demonstrations and rallies are held in Simferopol in Crimea, in towns in Uzbekistan, and in Moscow. Rallies vary between symbolic protests of a dozen or so people to 2,000 marchers.
Jun 1988 Police violently disperse a Crimean Tatar demonstration in Tashkent (of 5,000 people). In response, Crimean Tatar newspaper staffers in Uzbekistan go on a political strike.
Sep 1988 Several hundred Crimean Tatars hold demonstrations calling for their return in the Crimean town of Lenino. There are reports that the demonstration was dispersed with violence by the police.
1989 The National Movement of Crimean Tatars (NMCT) forms with the goals of removing restrictions on Crimean Tatars from returning to the Crimea from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian republics.
Jan 12, 1989 About a dozen Crimean Tatars unfurl a protest banner in Red Square in Moscow. They are pushing for the right to return to Crimea. It is granted in 1990.
May 2, 1989 The National Movement of Crimean Tatars is formed by Mustafa Dhzemilev (Cemioglu).
Jul 16, 1990 The Ukrainian SSR declares its state sovereignty.
Sep 1990 The Crimean Supreme Soviet calls upon the Supreme Soviets of the Soviet Union and Russian SFSR to nullify the decisions to strip Crimea of its autonomous status.
Jan 20, 1991 A referendum is held in the Crimea on restoring autonomy to the region. Over 80% of the electorate participate, of which 93.26% supported the "restoration of the Crimean ASSR as a subject of the USSR and as a party to the Union Treaty."
Feb 12, 1991 The Ukrainian Supreme Soviet restores the Crimea as an autonomous republic within the borders of the Ukraine.
Jun 26, 1991 The first all-union Congress of Crimean Tatars begins in Simferopol. The congress declares the Crimea to be "the national territory of the Crimean Tatar nation, on which it alone has the right to self-determination" (Keesings' 38302).
Aug 1991 An attempted coup against Gorbachev fails on the 21st. On the 24th, the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet declares the Ukraine's independence and on the same day, the Republican Movement of Crimea (which later becomes the Republican Party of Crimea) is established by Yurii Meshkov. The movement is officially registered as a movement in November.
Sep 4, 1991 The Crimean parliament declares the state sovereignty of Crimea as a constituent part of the Ukraine.
Oct 1991 The Ukrainian Supreme Soviet removes restrictions on the return of Crimean Tatars to Crimea and officially invites Crimean Tatars in Uzbekistan to return. This may be seen as a strategic move to head off potential problems for the Ukrainian government with the Russian majority in Crimea and with the Russian Federation. As a result of this move and growing financial support from Kiev, Crimean Tatars mainly support the Ukrainian central government in Crimea against the Russian majority there.
Dec 1, 1991 A referendum is held in the Ukraine on independence simultaneously with presidential elections. Leonid Kravchuk is elected the first president of the Ukraine, and the independence of the Ukraine is supported by the referendum. However, Crimean support for Ukrainian independence was lowest (only 54% in favor) with very low turnout (65%).
Jan 1992 The Russian Foreign Ministry and parliament condemn the transfer of Crimea to the Ukraine in 1954.
1992 The Organization of the Crimean Tatar National Movement (OCNM) forms out of the National Movement of Crimean Tatars (NMCT) largely with the same goals. The group's charter claims it will adopt "more organized forms of political struggle" (Stewart 5/94).
Feb 26, 1992 The Crimean parliament changes the name of the region from the Crimean ASSR to the Crimean Republic.
Mar 19, 1992 Crimean Tatars (several hundred) hold a protest to air their desire to have the exclusive right to determine the future status of Crimea. They believe they should have this right as they are the only indigenous peoples in the Crimea.
Apr 1992 In a visit to Crimea, Russian Vice President Rutskoi calls for the secession of Crimea from the Ukraine.
May 5, 1992 Crimea's parliament declares total independence subject to approval in a referendum to be held in August 1992.
May 13, 1992 The Ukrainian parliament declares the Crimean parliament's independence declaration unconstitutional and gives them until May 20 to rescind it. They also give President Kravchuk the power to use all necessary means to halt Crimean independence.
May 18, 1992 Nikolai Bagrov bans all demonstrations in observance of the anniversary of the mass deportations. Cemioglu complains to the media about the condition for returning Crimean Tatars. A lack of roads, electricity, running water, and schools has led to the highest infant mortality rate and one of the highest epidemic rates in the country.
May 20, 1992 In reaction to the Ukrainian ultimatum, the Crimean parliament rescinds its declaration of independence, but only suspends the referendum on independence. They also suggest that Kiev suspend its law on Crimean autonomy and begin negotiating a new delineation of power between Kiev and Simferopol.
May 21, 1992 The Russian parliament passes a resolution declaring the 1954 transfer of Crimea illegal and calling for negotiations on the future of Crimea.
Jun 1, 1992 Crimean and Ukrainian parliaments agree to a compromise where Crimea is granted greater autonomy and special economic status. Crimean Tatars condemn the agreement as they were not a party to the negotiations.
Jun 30, 1992 Kiev passes a law granting Crimea greater autonomy as they agreed to, but made its enactment contingent on (1) Crimea's amendment of its constitution to bring into line with the Ukraine's, and (2) the complete annulment of the independence referendum. Crimea later imposes a moratorium on the referendum.
Jul 1992 A group of local (most likely Russian) residents support the eviction by Crimean militiamen of Tatars squatting on some land near Bachissaray (ancient capital of Haci Giray Khan). The clash turns violent with some 20 people reportedly being seriously wounded.
Sep 1992 Crimea revises its constitution to meet the Ukraine's requirements.
Dec 17, 1992 The Ukrainian parliament passes the Law on the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Republic of Crimea.
Jan 18 - 20, 1993 Anti-Ukrainian demonstrations again take place in Sevastopol and Simferopol. This time they are organized by the All Crimean Movement of Electors for a Crimean Republic, the Republican Movement of Crimea, Edinstvo, and the Union of Communists (all ethnic-Russian groups). Demands include the transfer of Crimea back to Russian jurisdiction and early elections be held for all government bodies. The Simferopol demonstration numbers about 1,000 and is led by Meshkov; the demonstration goes past the parliament building and is unauthorized.
Apr 14, 1993 The Presidium of the Crimean parliament calls for the creation of the post of president. The issue is to be on the upcoming sessions agenda.
May 5, 1993 President Kravchuk meets with Crimean Chairman Bahrov. They discuss an amendment to the Ukrainian Constitution concerning the division of powers between Kiev and Sevastopol, the establishment of committees to decide the division of property in Crimea, and the allowance of dual Russian-Ukrainian citizenship for Crimean residents.
Jun 8, 1993 The Ukrainian Defense Ministry issues statement renouncing plans to lease Sevastopol to Russia.
Jun 25, 1993 Kravchuk declares Crimea a free economic zone. The following day, protests are held against the agreement by officers of the fleet and workers' unions.
Jul 16, 1993 The anti-Ukrainian Popular Assembly declares that only Russian laws should be valid in the city of Sevastopol, fresh elections to the city council should be held, Sevastopol deputies in Kiev should be dismissed and new elections for deputies to be sent to Russia should be held, the Ukrainian naval headquarters should be removed forcibly from Sevastopol, and Russia should cut off oil deliveries to Ukraine. Meshkov makes a statement that once Sevastopol is reunited with Russia, the rest of Crimea would soon follow.
Sep 17, 1993 The Crimean parliament passes a law providing for the election of a president of the Crimean Republic.
Sep 28, 1993 Bahrov, speaker of the Crimean parliament threatens to resign in protest the parliament's refusal to guarantee Crimean Tatars representation. The parliament refuses to accept the resignation.
Sep 30, 1993 Crimean Tatars hold unsanctioned rallies in two Crimean settlements. In all, about 150 people participate and make demands for 22 Tatar-electoral districts to the Crimean Supreme Council, official recognition of Majlis, and increased assistance to Tatars resettling to Crimea.
Oct 14, 1993 The Crimean parliament sets presidential elections for January 16, 1994. In a separate vote, they agreed to allocate 14 seats to Crimean Tatars (out of 96) in the new parliament, though the agreement is valid for one term only. Mejlis (the assembly for the OCNM) had called for 22 seats and NMCT had called for 36, though the deal apparently satisfied Mejlis as it cancelled planned protests.
Nov 17, 1993 The leader of the National Movement of Crimean Tatars, Yurii Osmanov is murdered. Other Crimean Tatars leaders speculate that the murder was carried out by Crimean Tatar youths becoming impatient and taking a more violent path. Vasvi Abduraimov who holds a position in the Crimean Ministry of Education) takes over as the leader of NMCT.
Dec 7, 1993 The offices of the Mejlis, the ruling council of the OCNM are torched. There is little information as to who is responsible, but it appears likely that a more radical Tatar group is responsible.
Dec 16, 1993 A bomb does minor damage to the home of Eskander Memetov, economic advisor to Bahrov, speaker of the Crimean parliament.
Jan 1994 The Ukrainian government increases tenfold its allocation for construction projects to house Crimean Tatars in Crimea. This is seen by Mejlis as an attempt to strength support from the Crimean Tatars for the continuation of Crimea as a part of Ukraine (Stewart 5/94). Mejlis leader, Mustafa Cemioglu, also presses Ukrainian President Kravchuk to begin dispersing the housing funds through banking structures set up by Mejlis in order to bypass the committee set up by the Crimean Council of Ministers to use the money. Most Crimean Tatar groups claim this money is being misused and wasted.
Jan 10, 1994 Supporters of the pro-Russian nationalist, Meshkov disrupt a speech by Bahrov. Charges are leveled at Meshkov of waging a "pathological terror campaign." Candidate Meshokov makes inflamatory statements against the Tatars, promising to revoke the set-aside of 14 parliamentary seats for Tatars.
Jan 15, 1994 Meshkov is attacked at a bus stop on the eve of the elections by an individual with a metal rod.
Jan 16, 1994 Over 80% of registered voters vote in the presidential elections. No winner emerges; the top two candidates are Mehkov with 38.2% of the vote, and Bahrov with 17.6% of the vote. The run-offs are scheduled for January 30. With Meshkov of the Russia-bloc the leading candidate, Tatar groups come out in support of Bahrov who is seen as more open to Tatar demands and much less nationalistic. Previously, Cemioglu refused to support any candidate as he maintained that having two presidents in the state of Ukraine would be illegal.
Jan 19, 1994 Memetov is again attacked along with 14 companions. Eleven people are wounded, three killed. Memetov dies two days later due to his injuries.
Jan 20, 1994 Kiev's parliament votes to allow the president to nullify any acts by either central agencies or Crimean authorities which violate the constitution.
Jan 25, 1994 Kravchuk meets with advisors of Meshkov and Bahrov. He assures them that he does not intend to intervene against the Republican Movement. He also reiterated his opposition to dual citizenship.
Jan 30, 1994 The presidential run-offs are held. Meshkov wins with 75% of the vote and Bahrov resigns from parliament - although the resignation was rejected again by the parliament. In this aftermath, ties between Tatars and the Ukrainian government tighten considerably as the government sees the Tatars as a possible bulwark against future secession and the election of Meshkov points to a loss of influence for moderates in the Crimea.
Feb 4, 1994 Meshkov is sworn in as president. He praises Ukraine and President Kravchuk, and in meetings with him works on economic agreements.
Feb 24, 1994 The Ukrainian parliament finds that Crimea did not have the right to have independent defense and monetary policies and they rejected the idea of a separate Crimean citizenship. They also placed a deadline on the Crimean parliament to get Crimean law into line with Ukrainian.
Mar 2, 1994 Bahrov denounces the resolution by the Ukrainian parliament in a meeting with Kravchuk and the chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet.
Mar 4, 1994 The Rossiya electoral bloc urges Crimeans to boycott the upcoming Ukrainian parliamentary elections (set for March 27).
Mar 11, 1994 The Crimean parliament appoints a former Russian minister of economics as deputy prime minister. The Crimean branch of the Ukrainian Republican Party and the Ukrainian Civic Congress adopt a resolution denouncing the Crimean decree on holding a referendum on independence. They also demanded that Kravchuk abolish the Crimean presidency.
Mar 14, 1994 Crimean parliament adopts a budget which calls for taxes and tariffs to be appropriated in Simferopol instead of Kiev. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine declares Meshkov's referendum on independence illegal. Two days later, Kravchuk follows suit declaring the referendum null and void; he states that Meshkov has exceeded his authority. Meshkov vows to go ahead with the referendum anyway.
Mar 21, 1994 Meshkov sets up a special commission to conduct a nonbinding referendum on the status of the Crimea.
Mar 25, 1994 The Ukrainian Defense Ministry declares illegal a decree by Meshkov requiring that Crimean citizens may only perform military service on Crimean soil.
Mar 27, 1994 The Crimea holds the referendum 1.3 million voted, 78.4% of whom supported greater autonomy from Ukraine, 82.8% supported allowing dual Russian-Ukrainian citizenship, and 77.9% favored giving Crimean presidential decrees the force of law. The first round of both Crimean and Ukrainian elections also take place. In the Crimea, the Rossiya bloc gets 67% of the vote, the Communist Party 11%, and the Party of Economic Rebirth 7%.