Ukraine Marks Anniversary of Russia’s Sham Crimea Referendum

On March 16, 2026, Ukraine marked twelve years since Russia staged a sham referendum in Crimea, a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that during this period, nearly 300 individuals have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges, including 159 Crimean Tatars, while at least 430 people have been subject to such fabricated cases, with the actual number likely higher. The ministry emphasized that Russia’s occupation has turned Crimea into a zone of lawlessness, where residents face intimidation, persecution, and imprisonment based on their language, beliefs, or political views....