Abstract

I have completed my EPQ on the question of “Is Russia justified in their claim of Crimea?” as the question of Crimea’s ownership has been one that is rooted in debate and controversy since the fall of the Soviet Union, whereby Russian and Ukrainian assertions over Crimea are categorised across 4 factors. The political, historical, social and geographical factors dictated much of the contemporary debates regarding Crimea’s ownership, and they are the  ones that I have used in my EPQ, and have served as the foundations of my debate, whereby I looked at both Russian and Ukrainian claims through these factors. The topic of Crimea and its ownership is one that bears personal significance to me as a Russian-speaking Ukrainian with family in Crimea, and by completing this project, I was able to delve deeper into the political and historical landscapes of Crimea and understand how the political perspectives of my family have been shaped in Crimea. The completion of my EPQ has also enhanced my research abilities, and my ability to view factors in nuance, a skill that bears usefulness in my current studies.

I completed my project through the use of sources that I have collected from either Western circles and perspectives, and eastern ones (those that align to Russia), which ultimately served to create balance within my project. I also used a range of sources to present different aspects of Crimea itself, such as through testimonies and speeches, which themselves serve to present different opinions and views regarding Crimea which I used within my arguments. With my findings in mind, I came to a nuanced conclusion on Crimea, taking into account Crimea’s demographics, social opinions and historical ties and how they all bear Russian influence. However, despite the Russian influence giving its claim weight at face value, it is largely diminished as, under the UN Charters that dictate how countries are to interact with one another, Russia’s annexation infringed on Ukrainian territorial integrity, an integrity that Russia signed treaties on, by which Russia swore not to infringe.