Crimean Leader claims control of military, police

[steve2470]

Source: AP

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The pro-Russian prime minister of Ukraine's restive Crimea is claiming control of all military forces, police and other security services in the region.

In a statement reported by local and Russian news agencies on Saturday, Sergei Aksenov declares that the armed forces, the police, the national security service and border guards will answer only to his orders. He says that any commanders who don't agree should leave their posts.

Aksenov, the head of the main pro-Russia party on the peninsula, was appointed by the Crimean parliament on Thursday as tensions soared over Crimea's resistance to the new authorities in Kiev, who took power last week.

Armed men described as Russian troops on Friday took control of key airports in Crimea, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/crimean-leader-claims-control-military-police

[geomon666]

1. Here comes the civil war. n/t

[steve2470]

2. update at same article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-03-01-02-08-05

"Understanding my responsibility for the life and security of citizens, I appeal to the president of Russia Vladimir Putin for assistance in guaranteeing peace and calmness on the territory of the autonomous republic of Crimea," Aksenov said in his statement.

[blackspade]

14. The money quote.

An 'invitation' for an invasion.

[Igel]

16. So soon after 2/25.

Which in Georgia is "Soviet Occupation Day." On that day in 1921 the Red Army entered Georgia--not Soviet at the time--and installed a Bolshevik government.

The "leaders" had proclaimed themselves the true government of Georgia and asked help from the fraternal revolutionary, Bolshevik government in Moscow. True to form, the anti-imperialist Lenin sent in the Red Army (on 2/25) to establish the "revolutionary government". It was revolutionary, so it obviously had popular support. This eventually led to Georgia's inclusion in the anti-imperialist Soviet empire. Even if it did take a few years and an 'uprising' against the 'popular' government that needed the Red Army to go in to restore order.

Putin did, of course, think that the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century was the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

And, of course, this change in government led by a small number of men in Tbilisi and supported by the mostly Russian Red Army was a "revolution," and in no way a "coup." While those who would probably agree with that characterization regard what happened in Kiev as a coup.

[blackspade]

18. The irony....

[freshwest]

19. So. the people there elected a PM, asked for help. No foul, it's their business, not ours. JMHO. nt.

[TwilightGardener]

3. If I were someone who didn't want to be Russian, I'd be gettin' out of

there right about now. I hope it goes down without violence. Beyond the invasion, though, I expect international pressure will begin for a settlement to be reached--I would think this region has assets that should rightfully belong to the people of Ukraine. Imagine if someone came along and swiped the Great Lakes states and all the resources, ports and factories.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. It looks like Crimea is about to rejoin the motherland.

I hope cool heads prevail, because this could get messy real quick.

[DainBramaged]

5. NeoCon wet dream

[steve2470]

6. Telecom services sabotaged in Ukraine's Crimea region

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/28/Telecom-services-sabotaged-in-Ukraines-Crimea-region/7611393621345/

KIEV, Ukraine, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Ukrtelecom, Ukraine's largest telecom provider, reported Friday that there was almost no phone or internet service across the Crimea region following sabotage by unknown elements.

Ukrtelecom, the country's only land-line provider, said that unidentified people seized telecommunications nodes and destroyed cables, effectively severing data and voice connectivity between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine.

The telecom disruption follows other incidents in Crimea concerning unidentified pro-Russian groups, some of whom were suspected by the Ukrainian government of being sent by Russia. Earlier Friday, armed men whom Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov claimed were Russian soldiers began patrolling the Simferopol airport in Crimea. Their presence, Avakov said, is regarded as "an armed invasion and occupation." On Thursday, gunmen seized control of two government buildings in Crimea, and raised the Russian flag above the buildings.

Clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian interim government groups turned deadly in the mostly pro-Russian Crimea region, with two reported deaths and 35 injured.



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/28/Telecom-services-sabotaged-in-Ukraines-Crimea-region/7611393621345/#ixzz2uhCRTdtL

[Scootaloo]

7. Aaaaand this is how all shit goes to fuck

And yes, that is the technical term.

[steve2470]

8. Russia says will not ignore Crimea leader's request for help

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jc7PAEVi4b7R2mTduQAf7r8ssOAA?docId=a8f772b3-506a-44c8-9c99-68112b1f0037

Moscow — The newly-chosen prime minister of the Ukrainian southern region of Crimea on Saturday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to help restore "peace and calm" to the Black Sea peninsula, amid a standoff with the new authorities in Kiev.

The Kremlin responded that it will not ignore Crimea's request for help.

"Taking into account my responsibility for the life and security of citizens, I ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to help in ensuring peace and calm on the territory of Crimea," Sergiy Aksyonov said in an address quoted by local media and broadcast in full by Russian state television.

Russian gas giant Gazprom said Saturday that Ukraine owes a "huge" debt of $1.55 bn for unpaid gas and may not be able to keep the discount it currently enjoys for Russian gas imports

[steve2470]

9. more from AFP

"Russia will not leave this request without attention," a source in the Kremlin administration was quoted as saying by all Russia's main news agencies after the plea from the newly-appointed pro-Russia Crimea premier Sergiy Aksyonov. Aksyonov said in an address quoted by local media and broadcast in full by Russian state television: "Taking into account my responsibility for the life and security of citizens, I ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to help in ensuring peace and calm on the territory of Crimea."

http://www.afp.com/en/news/topstories/russia-says-will-not-ignore-crimea-leaders-request-help

[pampango]

15. It would seem that Russia started providing "help" to Crimea even before

it was "officially" requested. Apparently it does not count as an "invasion" if the troops enter Ukraine in planes and helicopters rather than crossing the border on the ground.

[steve2470]

10. Ukrainian defense minister says Russia has recently brought 6,000 additional troops into Ukraine

red banner on Reuters, no link yet

eta:

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's defence minister said on Saturday Russia had "recently" brought 6,000 additional personnel into Ukraine and that the Ukrainian military were on high alert in the Crimea region.

Ihor Tenyukh gave no further details in comments to reporters in Kiev.

The Ukrainian government has accused Moscow of deploying troops in Crimea, where Russia's Black Sea fleet has a base, but Russia says it has not violated an agreement with Ukraine that covers its forces there.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2014/03/01/Ukraine-says-Russia-has-sent-in-thousands-of-extra-troops/

[steve2470]

11. The Russian foreign ministry have also accused Kiev of escalating the situation in Crimea....

The Russian foreign ministry have also accused Kiev of escalating the situation in Crimea by attempting to kidnap the Crimean interior minister.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/01/crimea-crisis-deepens-as-russia-and-ukraine-ready-forces-live-updates

[steve2470]

12. The Ukrainian defence minister has ordered all Ukrainian army units in Crimea to be on high alert.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/01/crimea-crisis-deepens-as-russia-and-ukraine-ready-forces-live-updates

[blackspade]

13. Enter another petty dictator to the region...

Let's see if his 'claim' works out.....

[Xithras]

20. Petty dictator?

Crimea was an autonomous region within the Ukraine before any of this ever started, with its own parliament and prime minister. This "petty dictator", along with the parliament who put him into that position, were voted into power in free and democratic elections.

Crimea is an area with a Russian supermajority. He represents the people who elected him.

[blackspade]

21. Yes petty dictator.

The pro-Russian prime minister of Ukraine's restive Crimea is claiming control of all military forces, police and other security services in the region.

[pangaia]

17. Good timing, Senor Putin.

This sort of "started", if I can use that term loosely, ummmmm one day AFTER the closing party at the Olympics... hummm...
No wonder you weren't smiling in Sochi...