Weaponizing historical determinism to legitimize the annexation of Crimea

What it claims

Appealing to 18th-century treaties serves as a tool to justify the modern occupation of the peninsula as a "historically determined" process. The manipulative interpretation of the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji aims to replace modern international law with the colonial logic of the Russian Empire.

Target audience

Examples (paraphrased)

• The anniversary of the 1774 Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji confirms that Crimea became part of Russia following the victory over the Ottoman Empire.
• This historical document laid the foundation for Russia's access to the Black Sea and the final consolidation of Crimea within the empire.

Goal

Create an illusion of continuous legal and historical ownership of Crimea by Russia to undermine Ukraine's recognized borders.

Techniques used

• Loaded LanguageUsing the hashtag #CrimeaIsRussia to reinforce territorial claims.
• Appeal to AuthorityUsing the 1774 Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji as the "original source" of the right to the territory.

The real grievance it exploits

Nostalgia for imperial grandeur and a desire for simple explanations of complex territorial conflicts through the lens of "historical justice."

How to counter

• Reframe: International law is based on the recognition of state sovereignty within 1991 borders, not on the colonial treaties of monarchies from past centuries.

Sources (all time)

• МЗС Росії (MFA Russia)Tier 21,300,000 followers