Упрощенная HTML-версия
Sergey Yurchenko
, Head of the Political Sciences
Department, V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal Uni-
versity
THE REUNIFICATION of Crimea with Russia
was a landmark event that indicated "break in global
continuity," and demonstrated Russia's new status
and readiness to reintegrate its historical lands. The
importance of this event determines the need to
study a geopolitical context, the strategic and tactical results of the reunion, and the pos-
sible models of Crimea's development.
The bipolar world became unipolar as the USSR lost the Cold War and eventually disinte-
grated.
The fall and disintegration of a great empire produces a number of tensions for its heirs.
The first emerges as a result of its stronger neighbors' attempts to incorporate parts of
the former empire or grip control over them; the second emerges due to the former im-
perial center's striving to regain its position, at least in part; and the third results from an-
tagonisms between the newly emerged states. Russian foreign policy has been affected by
all three types of "tensions."
A change in the Ukrainian system of government which led to the strengthening of radical
nationalism, put the southeastern regions on their guard, which was reflected in the
Crimean referendum of March 16, 2014, when an overwhelming majority voted for joining
Russia. The developments demonstrated the importance of the public will as a geopolitical
factor.
The reunion has brought about the following strategic results: the regaining of Crimea has
strengthened the Russian civilization area from the point of history, culture and religion;
Russia made a stride to the formation of its "greater" territory in conditions of a close in-
ternational competition; the Russian presence in the Black Sea region has strengthened;
Russia scored a symbolic victory for the first time since 1945; it has demonstrated that it
is possible to regain former Russian lands by peaceful means; the Russian national aware-
ness received a mighty impetus; a bridge was built between the Russian ruling top and the
general public while the political elite stayed divided; last but not least, Russia has received
a clear signal that its centuries-long confrontation with the West is still there.
A. Oganesyan
: I would like to say a few words about the Tatar factor in Crimea. This is
certainly a difficult question. As long as we guarantee the rights of the Tatar population,
the situation remains calm. Tatar has become an official language in the territory of Crimea.
The Tatar population has never had such attention. Stability in Crimea is an important fac-
tor. But how far should these guarantees go? And what about the other nationalities of
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