Heated discussion continues on the networks of the photo of the medal "For the Return of Crimea". Doubts in the Internet community were caused by an interesting date carved on its back: 2014-20-02. This date jeopardizes the veracity of the Kremlin's official explanation of Russia's position in relation to the annexation of Crimea and, in general, to the events in Ukraine that began in 2014.
What is the Kremlin saying?
The official Kremlin version is as follows. In February 2014, events took place in Crimea that seriously changed the socio-political life of the republic. Peaceful (mostly Russian-speaking) residents rose to protest against the seizure of power in Ukraine by the Euromaidanites. In the last days of February, a change of executive power was carried out in Sevastopol and Crimea, which announcedillegitimate new government in Kyiv and turned to the Russian president for support, which he immediately and in every possible way provided to the Crimeans.
In a short time, a referendum was organized in Crimea on the attitude of citizens to joining Russia, held on March 16. On the 17th, the Republic of Crimea was proclaimed sovereign. Sevastopol was also introduced into the newly formed structure. On March 18, Crimea was documentedly annexed to Russia. Officially, March 21, 2014 is considered the day of the establishment of the medal "For the Return of Crimea"
Why, then, is the date of the beginning of the "return" of Crimea in this historical document - 20.02.2014?
Misunderstood?
Historians and lawyers, as well as diplomats, political scientists, journalists and other persons who are obligated by duty, or accustomed to analyze at the call of their hearts, see in this historical document a "bomb" planted under the official facade of the Kremlin's position in relation to Crimea and the war in Ukraine.
What do analysts conclude?
The Russian Federation should clarify the discrepancies between the official date for the start of actions to return the peninsula and the President’s statement that Russia was not at all preparing to deal with the annexation of Crimea, and the decision to annex it was made after the cries for help from locals reached the Kremlin Russian-speaking residents. The meaning of Putin’s words, quoted in April by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, was not disguised by the explanations of his press secretary Peskov, allegedly Putin was “misunderstood”, and in fact Russian soldiers in the peninsulanever happened.
February 20, which, according to a historical document - the medal "For the Return of Crimea" - is the date of the start of the Russian operation in Crimea, Yanukovych was still the current president in Ukraine. There is no doubt about this, because the next day he signed an agreement with the opposition to resolve the political crisis in the country.
On February 20, the "Heavenly Hundred" was shot at the Maidan. The Kremlin still officially “does not believe” in the involvement of Alfa and Berkut, although the Internet is teeming with evidence.
The next night, from February 21 to 22, Yanukovych fled from Ukraine. It was a so-called "working trip" to Kharkov, on which the deposed guarantor took paintings and furniture with him. Everything falls into place, given that the Crimean annexation operation has been going on for the third day already.
The establishment of the Russian Defense Ministry medal "For the Return of Crimea" unexpectedly (and, as it should be understood, without the consent of the relevant ministries) introduced into circulation scientists and diplomats a historical document that gives an interpretation of events that runs counter to the official interpretation of the Kremlin.
Historical chronology proves the inconsistency of the latter: how could one start “returning Crimea” two days before the constitutional removal of the incumbent President of Ukraine, even if they “did not plan” to interfere in this?
The new medal "For the Return of Crimea" undoubtedly contains the most interesting information for the Hague Tribunal…
International scandal?
In the light of the revealed circumstances, the situation becomes rather ambiguousThe Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries of the former USSR: Belarus and Kazakhstan, who supported the annexation of the peninsula to Russia.
Since Russia's Medal "For the Return of Crimea" marks the start of Russian hostilities in Ukraine as the date two days before the resignation of the legitimate president, Moldova and Georgia also receive additional reasons to ask for protection from the Alliance.
The situation is similar with NATO members - Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland - doesn't the conclusions to which the Ministry of Defense medal "For the Return of Crimea" pushes give a reason to demand the receipt of "additional means of protection" from a possible Russian attack?
What happened next?
After the FSB medal "For the Return of Crimea" was established, awards began on March 24. Sergei Shoigu personally presented awards to Russian marines, former Ukrainian Berkut soldiers and officers of the Black Sea Fleet. The head of the annexed Crimea Sergey Aksyonov was also awarded.
Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces were also awarded, including soldiers and officers of the Central and Southern Military Districts. According to Y. Roshchupkin, an employee of the press service of the Central Military District, there was no army in Crimea, the decorated military, being on the territory of Russia, helped the rebellious Crimea with communications, transport, etc.
Shoigu himself appeared with a medal on Red Square at the parade on May 9.
In November 2014 and. about. Mayor of Kerch Sergey Pisarev presented an award to fifteen citizens and self-defense participantsCrimea.
In December, the head of the administration of Rostov-on-Don and twelve other residents received medals.
In the spring of 2015, the governor of Stavropol and 147 other distinguished Cossacks were awarded.
The medal was also awarded to a number of Russian public and political figures.
Statute of the Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
The medal is not endowed with the status of a state award. It is classified as departmental, the statute of the medal is approved by the Minister of Defense, the basis for awarding it is his order.
In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense established departmental awards: medals "For the annexation of Crimea in 2014", "For the preparation and holding of a referendum on reunification with Russia", "For merits in the reunification of Crimea with Russia", and also "For difference in teachings”, “For labor prowess” and the name of Mikhail Kalashnikov.
The leadership of Crimea introduced the medal "For the Defense of Crimea-2014", the people's militia issued a badge "For participation in the heroic defense of Crimea in February-March 2014".
In addition, it was also decided to issue 25 gilded or silver kilogram coins, which will depict Putin and Crimea.
Something about the features of the award "for the Crimea"
When photos of the reverse side of the scandalous medal appeared on social networks and questions began, all mention of it immediately disappeared from the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense. In the press service of the department, the photos circulated on the Internet began to be called a fake and claim that in fact such a medal does not exist. But the medal remained on othersresources. Wikipedia, for example, has an entire article about her.
At the disposal of journalists (Novaya Gazeta) were information about the secretly awarded Russians, who especially distinguished themselves during the Crimean campaign. Someone under the guise of local residents took part in noisy extras, someone helped seize administration buildings and military units of the "enemy" … Among the awarded journalists of "Novaya" found people with a very interesting and rather turbulent past: bikers, former football fans, nationalists, United Russia, representatives of the criminal world. As far as the journalists managed to find out, behind the shoulders of one of the awarded there is an armed robbery of an Orthodox church, the other is wanted by the federal police…
History knows cases when, in addition to idealistic romantics, people prone to violence, adventurers, adventurers were used in the interests of the state. If the state needs services of a "special kind", it closes its eyes to the past of people who are able to provide these services, and to their "uneasy" relationship with the law. In England, for example, the recruitment of entire pirate fleets into the army is known! So why be shy?
But if you remember that the design of the scandalous award was based on an unrealized project - a prototype of the medal of the times of the Great Patriotic War "For the Liberation of Crimea" (1944), one would like to ask a very rhetorical question: is everything in our OK with "spiritual bonds"?
