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State Council of Crimea

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State Council of Crimea
  • Государственный Совет Крыма
  • Державна Рада Криму
  • Къырым Девлет Шурасы
3rd convocation
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
History
Founded17 March 2014
Preceded bySupreme Council of Crimea
Leadership
Vladimir Konstantinov, United Russia
since 17 March 2014
Structure
Seats75
Political groups
  •   United Russia (68)
  •   LDPR (3)
  •   CPRF (3)
  •   SR-ZP (1)
Elections
Parallel voting:
First election
14 September 2014
Last election
8 September 2024
Next election
2029
Meeting place
Building of the State Council of Crimea, Simferopol
Website
www.crimea.gov.ru

The State Council of Crimea is the regional legislature established by Russia for the Republic of Crimea, a federal subject claimed by Russia on the territory of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The unicameral council has 75 members and meets in Simferopol.

Russia has controlled Crimea since its occupation and annexation of the peninsula in 2014. Ukraine and most of the international community continue to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine. In March 2014, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and called on states and international organizations not to recognize a change in the status of Crimea resulting from the referendum held on 16 March 2014.[1][2]

The council was established on 17 March 2014 as the Russian-controlled successor to the Supreme Council of Crimea, whose powers had been terminated by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine two days earlier. Vladimir Konstantinov, the final chairman of the Supreme Council, became chairman of the State Council. Elections under Russian administration were held in 2014, 2019 and 2024. Ukraine and the European Union do not recognize the legitimacy of those elections in Crimea.[3]

History

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Predecessor

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Before 2014, the regional legislature of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was the Supreme Council of Crimea. It was a 100-member unicameral body that operated under the constitutions and laws of Ukraine and the autonomous republic. Its final election was held in October 2010.

Vladimir Konstantinov chaired the Supreme Council from 2010 until the Ukrainian parliament terminated the body's powers on 15 March 2014. He subsequently became chairman of the State Council established under Russian administration.

Establishment in 2014

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On 27 February 2014, armed men wearing uniforms without identifying insignia seized the buildings of the Supreme Council and the Crimean Council of Ministers in Simferopol. Contemporary reports described the men as carrying automatic weapons and said that Russian flags were raised over the occupied buildings.[4][5]

Members of the legislature were subsequently permitted to enter the parliament building for an emergency session. During the session, the Supreme Council dismissed the government headed by Anatolii Mohyliov and appointed Sergey Aksyonov, leader of the Russian Unity party, as chairman of the Council of Ministers. The legislature also scheduled a referendum on Crimea's status.[6]

Questions were subsequently raised about the number of deputies present at the emergency session and whether all electronically recorded votes had been cast by the deputies to whom the voting cards had been issued. The available contemporary accounts reported conflicting numbers for attendance.[a]

On 11 March, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated that the Crimean legislature's decision to conduct a referendum contradicted several provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine and demanded that it be withdrawn. The Ukrainian parliament warned that it would consider terminating the Crimean legislature's powers if the decision was not rescinded.[7]

On 15 March, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine terminated the powers of the Supreme Council of Crimea. The resolution took effect upon its adoption.[8] Contemporary reporting stated that 278 members of the Ukrainian parliament voted in favor, with one abstention.[9]

The referendum was held on 16 March while Russian forces controlled the peninsula. The authorities administering Crimea announced that accession to Russia had received majority support. On 17 March, the legislature declared Crimea independent, adopted the name State Council of Crimea and requested admission to the Russian Federation. Russia signed a treaty claiming the annexation of Crimea on 18 March.

On 27 March, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/262 by 100 votes to 11, with 58 abstentions. The resolution affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, stated that the referendum had not been authorized by Ukraine and called on states and international organizations not to recognize a change in Crimea's status resulting from it.[10][11][12][13]

Russian-administered period

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The first election to the 75-member State Council under Russian law was conducted on 14 September 2014. United Russia won 70 seats and the Liberal Democratic Party won five. A second election was held on 8 September 2019.

The European Union stated that it did not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea or the conduct of the 2019 elections on the peninsula. It also stated that those elected under Russian administration would not be recognized as representatives of Crimea or Sevastopol.[14]

Elections for a third convocation were conducted from 6 to 8 September 2024. The European Union condemned the vote, stated that it had been conducted by Russia on Ukrainian territory, and said that neither the election nor its results would be recognized.[15][16]

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Under Russian law, the State Council is the legislature of the Republic of Crimea, which Russia treats as one of its federal subjects. The council operates under the constitution adopted by the Russian-controlled Crimean authorities and under applicable Russian federal legislation.

Ukraine does not recognize the Republic of Crimea or the State Council as lawful replacements for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and its Supreme Council. Ukraine continues to regard Crimea as an integral part of its territory under temporary Russian occupation.

The United Nations General Assembly has affirmed Ukraine's sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Resolution 68/262 called on states, international organizations and specialized agencies not to recognize changes to the status of Crimea or Sevastopol resulting from the March 2014 referendum.[17]

The European Union does not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and has rejected the validity of elections conducted under Russian administration on the peninsula. In response to the September 2024 elections, the EU stated that the vote and its results were null and void and could not produce legal effects.[18]

Composition and factions

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Following the 2024 election, the results announced by the Russian-administered authorities gave United Russia 68 of the council's 75 seats. The Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party each received three seats, while A Just Russia – For Truth received one.

Composition of the third convocation
Party Seats
United Russia 68
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 3
Communist Party of the Russian Federation 3
A Just Russia – For Truth 1
Total 75

Leadership

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The State Council is headed by a chairman, who presides over its sittings and represents the legislature in its relations with other authorities. Its presidium includes the chairman, the first deputy chairman and deputy chairmen.

Vladimir Konstantinov has served as chairman of the State Council since its establishment in March 2014. He previously served as chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea from 2010 until the Ukrainian parliament terminated that body's powers in March 2014.[19]

Elections

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2014

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On 14 September 2014 → two factions were formed at the opening session of the new parliament formed after the 2014 Crimean parliamentary election.

Party % Seats
United Russia72.7670
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia8.805
Communist Party of the Russian Federation8.800
Rodina2.750
Communists of Russia2.180
Russian Party of Pensioners for Social Justice2.010
Registered voters/turnout


Only two parties overcame the election threshold: United Russia won 70 mandates of the Crimean Republic's State Council 75 seats because its candidates won in all 25 single-member constituencies and it won 71.06% of the party-list vote; the other 5 mandates went to the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia who won 8.14% of the party-list vote.[20][21][22] The voter turnout was 53.61%.[21]

803 candidates had tried to win seats; 108 candidates in one of the single-member constituencies and the rest as candidates as member of 12 political parties.[22]

2019

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On 14 September 2019 → three factions were formed at the opening session of the new parliament formed after the 2019 Crimean parliamentary election.

Party % Seats
United Russia54.7060
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia16.8410
Communist Party of the Russian Federation8.225
Registered voters/turnout

2024

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Party % Seats
United Russia74.8768
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia5.713
Communist Party of the Russian Federation5.153
A Just Russia2.791
Registered voters/turnout

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Contemporary reporting variously stated that 64 deputies were registered as present and that only 36 deputies had physically attended. The precise attendance and manner in which the electronic votes were cast remained disputed.

References

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  1. ↑ "Territorial integrity of Ukraine: resolution adopted by the General Assembly". United Nations Digital Library. United Nations. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling upon States Not to Recognize Changes in Status of Crimea Region". United Nations Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. United Nations. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Statement by the Spokesperson on the non-recognition of Russian local elections in the Crimean peninsula". European External Action Service. European Union. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Ukraine unrest: Armed pro-Russian men seize control of government buildings in Crimea". ABC News. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Armed men seize government HQ in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag". CNBC. Reuters. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Tatars of Crimea". Reuters. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution on termination of the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to hold the Crimean referendum". Official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution "On early termination of authorities of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea"". Official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Crimea Assembly Dissolved; Kyiv Blames Kremlin For Violence In East". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Armed men seize government HQ in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag". CNBC. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Государственный Совет Республики Крым - Председатель Государственного Совета РК". crimea.gov.ru. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "OSCE Chair says Crimean referendum in its current form is illegal and calls for alternative ways to address the Crimean issue | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe". www.osce.org. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Opinion on "whether the decision taken by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine to organise a referendum on becoming a constituent territory of the Russian Federation or restoring Crimea's 1992 Constitution is compatible with constitutional principles" adopted by the Venice Commission at its 98th Plenary Session (Venice, 21-22 March 2014) - Venice Commission of the Council of Europe - www.coe.int". Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Statement by the Spokesperson on the non-recognition of Russian local elections in the Crimean peninsula". European External Action Service. European Union. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Russian Federation's decade-long occupation of Crimea marked by widespread violations | UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine". ukraine.ohchr.org. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Russia: Statement by the Spokesperson on regional elections and their non-applicability to Ukrainian territories | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Kyiv Parliament Dissolves Crimean Assembly". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea) European Court of Human Rights".
  19. ↑ "Konstantinov Vladimir Andreevich: Biography". State Council of the Republic of Crimea (in Russian). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Election Victories Strengthen Putin’s Grip Around Russia and Crimea, nytimes.com (SEPT. 14, 2014)
  21. 1 2 Russia's Central Election Commission Recognizes Crimea's Parliament Vote as Valid
  22. 1 2 United Russia wins 70 out of 75 seats in Crimean parliament — preliminary count
[edit]
  • rada.crimea.ua — Official website of the Supreme Council of Crimea (in Ukrainian and Russian)
  • ki.rada.crimea.ua — Krymskiye izvestiya; the official newspaper of the Supreme Council of Crimea (in Russian)
  • crimea.cr - Unofficial site on Crimea Independence (in Russian)

44°57′6″N 34°5′49″E / 44.95167°N 34.09694°E / 44.95167; 34.09694

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