Russia’s Political Repression of Crimea’s Radical Left
Russia’s annexation of Crimea was purportedly an exercise in free political expression, a watershed moment in history when a historic part of Russia returned to the motherland against the backdrop of a fascist putsch in Ukraine. Indeed, Crimea’s “reunification” (in Kremlin lingo) with Russia was sold, at least in part, as a humanitarian operation to restore order, secure Russia’s strategic interests, and protect the rights of Russians in Crimea.