About Crimea

Crimea was ceded by the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954, in recognition of historic links and for economic convenience, to mark the 300th anniversary of Ukraine’s union with Russia. Ethnic tensions in Crimea during 1992 prompted a number of pro-Russian political organizations to advocate secession of Crimea and annexation to Russia. In July 1992, the Crimean and Ukrainian parliaments determined that Crimea would remain under Ukrainian jurisdiction while retaining significant cultural and economic autonomy.

There are 24 administrative regions (oblasts), the Autonomous Republic of Crimea [ARC], and two municipalities (Kyiv and Sevastopol). The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an inseparable constituent part of Ukraine. It is situated in the Crimean peninsula. It is washed by the Black Sea in the west, south and south-east and by the Azov Sea in the north-east. In the north the peninsula borders with the continental Ukraine. The area of Crimea is 27,000 square km. The population is 2,650,000 people. Crimea is inhabited mainly by Russians, Ukrainians,Tartars, as well as Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Germans and others. About 68% of the whole population lives in the cities.

Crimea had first experienced autonomy during the civil war (1918-1920). The Red Army (the Soviet Republic of Tavrida (1918) and Crimean SSR (1919)) as well as the White Army (regional governments (1918-1919) and government of P.N.Vrangel (1920)), were forced to give the elements of statehood to the Crimea. The Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1921) was created due to the joint Decree of the all union Central Executive Committee and Council of Public Commissars "in borders of the Crimean peninsula" and was part of the structure of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic. It was claimed as the Republic on the First Crimean Constituent Congress of the Soviets. In 1945 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR it was abolished and transformed into the Crimean region. In 1954 the Crimean region was transferred to the structure of Ukraine by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.

The Republic of Crimea has been granted special status, with considerable autonomy in its internal affairs. The identification of the Russian population in Crimea with Russia has also not led to confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, despite the sometimes elevated rhetoric. President Kravchuk repeatedly expressed the view that the autonomous Republic of Crimea ought to have considerable latitude in the economic field. For instance, in the spring of 1992, he expressed his willingness to leave to Crimea the control of all "territorial property" on the peninsula. He also stated that Crimea ought to have "all the necessary political and legal opportunities to realise its special potential".

On 20 May 1994, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of the Republic of Crimea adopted the Law `On Renewal of the Constitutional Basis of the Statehood of the Republic of Crimea' which resumpted the sections of the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea of May 6, 1992, aimed at changing the legal status of the autonomous Republic of Crimea as an integral part of Ukraine. By this act, the legislative body of the autonomous Republic of Crimea violated the Constitution of the Ukraine, its legislation in force, including the Law of Ukraine `On the Delimination of Powers between the State Power Authorities of Ukraine and the Republic of Crimea' of 29 April 1992.

A Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was adopted on 01 November 1995. Defence, armed forces and security are some other matters which the Constitution of the ARC adopted on 1 November 1995 recognizes as belonging to the exclusive competence of Ukraine. The ARC enters into relations with official bodies of other states and with international organizations only in matters pertaining to the economy, environmental protection and cultural relations that are subject to its jurisdiction.

A new Constitution, adopted by the Crimean Parliament on 21 October 1998 had to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament. It defined the legal framework for an Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the Ukrainian State. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea exercises normative regulation on the following issues: agriculture and forestry; land reclamation and mining; public works, crafts and trades; charity; city construction and housing management; tourism, hotel business, fairs; museums, libraries, theatres, other cultural establishments, historical and cultural preserves; public transportation, roadways, water supply; hunting and fishing; and sanitary and hospital services.

The successful completion in 1999 of the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Ukraine was an important contribution by the OSCE to the process of stabilization in its Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

There were complex issues associated with Crimea's multiethnic population and with the return to Crimea of over 250,000 deported people and their descendants, the overwhelming majority of whom are Crimean Tatars. There were considerable difficulties for Tatars still without Ukrainian citizenship who have already arrived in Crimea.

Economy

The main branches of the Crimean economy are tourism and agriculture. Industrial plants are situated for the most part in the northern regions of the republic.

Simferopol is a regional center of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. It has ties almost with all cities in Crimea. It is convenient to plan your route from this city because of its location on the map (in the center of Crimean peninsula), developed branch line and an airport location.

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