Another UN Resolution on Crimea; Russia Unfazed

The United Nations has again adopted a resolution urging Russia to immediately withdraw its soldiers from Crimea and end its illegal occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

The letter and spirit of the resolution set the degree of criminality for Russia’s transgressions at a level that requires some form of punishment. It emphasized that the presence of Russian troops in Crimea “is contrary to the national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and undermines the security and stability of neighboring countries and the European region.”

In other words, Russia committed a crime just like any gangster who robs a bank. For these words to have an effect on Russia and other international criminals, they have to be followed up by action or else the perpetrators will continue to participate in global meetings with impunity, shaking hands and smiling.

This statement is a welcome development but Russia, a founder of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, arrogantly remains entrenched in its aggression against a foreign country.

The UN General Assembly on Monday, December 7, urged Moscow in no uncertain terms to immediately withdraw its army from Ukrainian lands. This demand repeats the UN’s previous designation of Russia, the age-old enemy and oppressor of Ukraine, as the “occupying power.”

That first of 21 UN demands, reads as follows: “Urges the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power, immediately, completely and unconditionally to withdraw its military forces from Crimea and end its temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine without delay.”

The vote was 63-17 with 62 abstentions, close to the vote on a similar resolution adopted last year.

The resolution, which is not legally binding but reflects censure by the international body, was supported by Western nations and their allies and opposed by Russia and its allies including China, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Syria.

The resolution condemned the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, namely, Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russia, and reaffirmed that Moscow’s annexation is not recognized. It affirmed that “the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law," and said it must be “immediately returned.”

The resolution noted that the invasion and occupation of Crimea is a violation of the Memorandum on Security Assurances in Connection with Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the so-called Budapest Memorandum, of December 5, 1994, (see my previous blog on the worthlessness of this document) because the signatories, including Russia, agreed not to threaten or use force against specifically Ukraine. The signatories stated they would respect the independence, sovereignty and existing borders of Ukraine. So much for Russian assurances. The UN suggested that Russia once more demonstrated that international borders are mere lines on a globe that it can violate any time it wishes to do so.

Noting the possibility of Russia converting the former resort island into a military compound, the UN reiterated its “grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea,” and its transfer of advanced weapon systems “including nuclear-capable aircraft and missiles, weapons, ammunition and military personnel to the territory of Ukraine.” It urged Russia “to stop such activity without delay.”

The resolution condemned Russia’s use of seized Ukrainian military industry enterprises in Crimea, called on Moscow to stop its efforts to extend jurisdiction over nuclear facilities and material in Crimea. It further condemned Russia’s construction of warships in Crimea and called on Moscow to refrain from impeding lawful navigation under international law in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Casting a dark shadow on Moscow’s policy of military indoctrination of youth, the resolution insisted that the Kremlin refrain from “establishing educational institutions that provide combat training to Crimean children with the stated aim of training for military service in the Russian armed forces, to refrain from establishing combat training courses at Crimean schools and to cease efforts to formally incorporate Crimean educational institutions into the ‘military-patriotic’ education system of the Russian Federation.”

The resolution further decried Russia’s conscription of residents of Crimea including those with Ukrainian citizenship.

In order to build international support for its resolution and sanctions against Moscow, the UN appealed to all 193 member-states, as well as international organizations and specialized agencies, to refrain from visiting Crimea that is not agreed with Ukraine. Unfortunately, in addition to Putin and other Russian officials, some Western European leaders have also done so.

Despite Russia’s intransigence, it is nonetheless significant that the United Nations officially condemned Russia as an “occupier” of foreign lands just like Nazi Germany and other tyrannical empires.  This resolution casts a different light on Moscow’s crimes, which now cannot be regarded as its internal matters. Its crimes have crossed over into the “near abroad.” Moscow has turned the world into its domain but the UN, among others, has caught it red handed. Just like the albatross in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the UN action stigmatizes Russia, Moscow, the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin and all successive leaders as global criminals.

The resolution sends a clear message to Russia and Putin that as “occupying authorities” they are responsible for the persecutions and violations of the human rights of the residents of Crimea and are subject to the same kind of justice that the Nazis faced. This type of criminal behavior is not tolerated in municipalities and it shouldn’t be tolerated on a global scale because, as history has shown, it will give rise to depraved tyrants like Hitler.