КРИМСЬКИЙ «ВУЗОЛ» ІДЕНТИЧНОСТЕЙ: РОСІЙСЬКА АНЕКСІЯ І ПРОБЛЕМАТИКА ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ САМОБУТНОСТІ КРИМЧАН

Abstract

The insufficient degree of common identity at the state level, the distinct regional character of axiological and ideological differences in the Ukrainian society, direct interference with the internal affairs and imposition of common identifications on the part of other subjects of international relations considerably aggravates the threat of separatism, leads to the increase of joint identification of citizens with other societies and their political interests, which can lead to the territorial disintegration of the country. The annexation of Crimea by Russia became a significant destabilizing factor in the region, which sharpened ethnopolitical controversies on the peninsula. The most ethnically dissatisfied are Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, who experience constant discrimination due to their ethnic origin, language, and religion from the state authorities of Crimea and Russian Federation. According to the population census, conducted by the Federal Service of State Statistics, subordinate to the Russian power, the peninsula has observed a considerable decrease of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar population: 15.8% of Ukrainians and 10.6% of Crimean Tatars. Russians constitute the majority: 68.3% comparing to 58.3% in 2001. Different sociological studies in Crimea claim annexation to cause the intensification of regional tendencies. Thus, according to the 2016 poll, 35% of the citizens identified themselves, first of all, as Crimeans and not as the citizens of Russia, which considerably exceeds average Russian figures. This dynamics does not obviously fit the ideas of the “Russian World”; thus, the peninsula observes the implementation of the “soft deportation” policy of Crimeans, substituted by Russians. The official data state that during four years 178 thousand people have migrated to Crimea, the prevailing majority of them being Russians. Although Ukraine does not have opportunities for implementing the legislation developed in the time period of 2014–2018 for the regulation of Crimean ethnopolitical disputes on the occupied peninsula, the development and implementation of the de-occupation and reintegration strategy of Crimea is crucial for the protection of Crimean ethnic communities’ rights and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.