The facts about Crimea
- Ethnic Russians make up 58% of the Crimean population
- Ethnic population = 300,000 Tatars, Turkic Muslims
- Ethnic Ukrainians - make up 24% of Crimea's population
- Estimates: 40% want to be part of Russia
- Crimea has a tropical climate
- Most in Crimea are bilingual
- 1.8 million potential Crimean voters
- Ukraine was a nuclear power until 1996
- Some may fear the past history of USSR invasions
- Became a part of then-Soviet Ukraine in 1954
- Most Crimeans are bilingual: Ukrainophones or Russiaphones
- To the south, in Europe, countries were Fascist Regimes
- To the east: Communist governments
Canadians of Ukranian Descent: many resources
- Canada has a high population of immigrants from Slavic countries
- StatCan estimates over 1,000,000 from Ukrainian descent in Canada
- Publications abound: e.g., uManitoba and uToronto have Ukranian/Slavic Faculties
- Extensive library collections: e.g., Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, uToronto: Electronic Library of Ukrainian Literature
Crimea unites in pro-Russia stance
Crimea votes in contentious referendum on joining Russia
Voting is said to be illegitimate by the
interim government in Ukraine and many western countries. Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the vote.
BBC has a great map and article |
Voters face two options in Sunday's referendum:
- either becoming a part of the Russian Federation,
- or returning to Crimea's status under Ukraine's 1992 constitution.
Voters in the majority ethnic-Russian region are expected to approve rejoining Moscow, 60 years after .
Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia
The Tatars were deported to Central Asia by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1944. They were only able to return with the fall of the Soviet Union and many want to remain under Ukrainian rule.
Many ethnic Ukrainians declined to vote.
On the eve of a secession referendum in Crimea, Russian forces took a natural gas terminal while Western officials prepared sanctions for Moscow.
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1 comment:
Alberta has a large Ukrainian population. they are proud and keep practicing their traditions. I like watching Ukrainian dancing. Of course, my ancestors came from the Ukraine as they were Germans living in the Ukraine.
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