Referendum and Independence

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Other Title
  • 民族の独立とレファレンダム
  • 民族の独立とレファレンダム : クリミアの事例
  • ミンゾク ノ ドクリツ ト レファレンダム : クリミア ノ ジレイ
  • The Crimean Case
  • クリミアの事例

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Abstract

A referendum to decide whether to become a part of Russia or to remain in Ukraine was held in Crimea on March 16, 2014. Although the Ukrainian government called it ”illegal and invalid,” Crimean parliament declared independence, concluding a treaty with Russia, claiming that more than 90% of voters supported the ”reunification” with Russia. This was the third referendum in Crimea after 1991 and 1994, thus deepening the separatist movement from Ukraine. Characteristics of the Crimean separatism and referendums can be summarized as follows: First, the referendum was used as a tool to achieve ”reunification” with Russia, which was perceived by Russians (both in Crimea and mainland Russia) as ”historical justice”. Second, the Soviet Union's negative legacies (such as Stalin's deportation of Crimean Tatars, lack of experience in democratic elections, chaos before and after the state collapse) further complicated the situation. Third, the fact that Ukraine's secession from the USSR provoked Crimean Russians' separatism from Ukraine, which consequently forced Crimean Tatars to claim their right in Crimea revealed the sensitive question as to what extent the right of self-determination should be realized in the typical ”Matryoshka” structured society. A final characteristic to note includes the external factors which encouraged Russia's annexation of Crimea. Therefore, by explaining the historical background, the process of the Ukrainian Crisis as well as the impact of the referendums of Crimea, this paper aims to clarify the meaning and significance of the Crimean case.

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