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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the presentation of the collection of documents titled Crimea in Russia's Development: History, Politics, Diplomacy. Documents from the Foreign Ministry Archives, Moscow, February 15, 2024

15 February 2024 12:44
282-15-02-2024

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have gathered here to present the second edition of the collection of documents titled Crimea in Russia's Development: History, Politics, Diplomacy. Documents from the Foreign Ministry Archives. The first edition, released in 2018, garnered significant attention from both readers and researchers, helping raise public awareness on all matters related to Crimea as an integral part of Russia. This inspired the Foreign Ministry's Department of History and Records to publish a newly designed and expanded edition of this collection.

This publication has been released for the tenth anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia, which we will celebrate next month. It was during the March 16, 2014, referendum that the people of Crimea made an informed choice in favour of returning home, where they could assert their right to speak their native language, develop their culture and honour their history and traditions. In his famous Crimean Speech on March 18, 2014, President Vladimir Putin said: "We could not leave this plea unheeded; we could not abandon Crimea and its residents in distress. This would have been betrayal on our part."

The way the dramatic events have been unfolding in Ukraine demonstrates that reunification with Russia was the only right and possible option for the people of Crimea. Taking this step was consistent with the historical logic of events and the fundamental interests of the people living on this Russian peninsula.

This is the message conveyed by the collection we are presenting today. In particular, it offers unique and convincing documentary evidence demonstrating the unbreakable bond linking Crimea's destiny to Russia. The documents in this book include treaties, declarations, diplomatic messages, letters and telegrams. They shed light on Taurida's heroic past. Exploring these documents provides a detailed insight into the events that took place along our homeland's southern frontier between the signing of the Treaty of Constantinople in 1700 and the establishment of the Soviet rule in 1922.

This covers a historical era of over 200 years, marked by momentous accomplishments, including the steady expansion of Russian influence over the peninsula, Crimea's accession to the Russian Empire, the construction of new cities there, the emergence of the Black Sea fleet, the heroic defence of Sevastopol, and the establishment of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Today, Russia is making great efforts to revive the love for Russian history and preserve the truth about its great past. This collection contains original documents from the Foreign Ministry Archives and seeks to make a constructive and useful contribution to these important efforts.

I have no doubt that specialists and everyone interested in history will appreciate this book.