Is Crimea's vote to join Russia legitimate?
Pool/Getty Images


As Crimea barrels toward a referendum that would in all probability make the peninsula a part of the Russian federation, the Kremlin is falling back on the principle of self-determination to justify the move. Russia says it is equivalent to Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, which was opposed by Russia and supported by the West.
Let's set aside for a moment the fact that Vladimir Putin's government has violently squelched autonomy movements within the federation, and has been a zealous proponent of the notion that sovereign states have wide authority to resolve internal disagreements. (You can bet that China, Putin's longtime ally on these matters, is a little alarmed at his change of heart.) Would Crimea's vote be legitimate?
To be generous, it is badly compromised. The referendum was set in motion by the Crimean parliament, whose leader, Sergei Aksyonov, was installed by force in the wake of the fall of the government in Kiev. Furthermore, the referendum will take place with Russian troops in control of Crimea's state institutions, which hardly screams a free and fair vote.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Crimea has genuine cultural and historical ties to Russia. But the referendum is coming at the end of a gun.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack