Sovereignty vs. self-rule: Crimea reignites battle
- The soured relations between the United States and Russia was due to Kosovars’ separation from Serbia.
- Kosovo’s bid for independence was supported by Washington while Serbia’s sovereignty was infringement according to Moscow.
- Russia proclaims Crimea’s right to break off from Ukraine which is illegitimate as per United States.
- The Ukraine crisis has revived old debate over right of self-determination versus the territorial integrity of nation-states.
- Crimea’s clash is similar to Kosovo, especially with Russian troops taking over peninsula to dissolve ties with Ukraine and helping it rejoin Russia. But intervention of U.S military force in Kosovo was not to occupy any territory.
- Kosovo has been cited as the precedent repeatedly by Russians defending their Crimea intervention. Kremlin is trying to legitimize an invasion and a land grab with false comparisons to situations like Kosovo.
- Kosovo Liberation Army fought against the Serbian government and was legally declared by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as an independent nation.
- Russia has cited Kosovo to justify support for pro-Moscow separatist republics over Western objections.
- Serbia’s legitimacy and right to rule Kosovo was lost due to its violent crackdown whereas the government in Kiev did not commit any crimes or repression against humanity and did not lose legitimacy.
Exams Perspective:
- Kosovo independence
- Ukraine crisis
- Right to self determination
- Territorial Integrity