Crimea's Reunification With Russia Only Right Outcome, Foreign Minister Lavrov States
© Sputnik . Konstantin Mihalchevskiy
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Crimea reunited with Russia after a referendum was held there in March 2014 following a coup d'etat in Ukraine. Crimea remains a territory that Ukraine continues to regard as its own, albeit "temporarily occupied."
The reunification of Crimea with Russia was the only right development of the situation following the Euromaidan coup in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday.
"As the further development of the situation shows, this decision was the only right one. It [reunification] made it possible to protect the lives, honor and dignity of Crimeans from the encroachments of the Russophobic Kiev regime," Lavrov said in a video message to mark the 10th anniversary of the peninsula's reunification with Russia.
Moscow remembers the terrible time when neo-Nazis seized power in Kiev, Lavrov said, noting that subsequent sanctions against Crimea, power line explosions, as well as blockades of transport, energy and water only ultimately convinced the residents that they had made the right choice.
The minister emphasized that the issue of Crimea's status is closed, as "the peninsula is an integral part of Russia."
"Over the past years, we have managed to overcome many of the problems inherited from Ukraine. Large-scale projects have been implemented and continue to be implemented, contributing to the revival and renewal of Crimea, its further integration into the political, legal and socio-economic space of Russia, and improving the quality of citizens' life," Lavrov said.
The rights of all citizens are strictly respected on the territory of Crimea, without exception, he added.
"With clear prospects for further development, Crimeans can look to the future with confidence and optimism ... Congratulations to all the residents of the peninsula on the 10th anniversary of the historic reunification with Russia. I wish them good health, well-being, prosperity and all the best," the minister said.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum was held there in March 2014 following the coup in Ukraine. Ukraine continues to consider Crimea as its own, but a temporarily occupied territory.
The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that Crimean residents democratically, in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is "closed."
