A bill has been introduced to the State Duma to declare the decision to transfer Crimea from the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954 invalid. The corresponding document appeared in the database of the lower house of parliament.

On February 19, 1954, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree transferring the Crimean region from the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. The official reason cited was "economic commonality and territorial proximity." The decree was ratified by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in April of the same year.

The authors of the document propose to recognize the decision to transfer Crimea as "illegal, not complying with the fundamental principles of legal statehood and international law." The draft law states that the corresponding decision was a "political crime" committed "in violation of the constitutions of the RSFSR and USSR," as well as "without considering the will of the Russian people."

According to deputies, the transfer of Crimea should be recognized as illegal not only "for reasons of restoring historical justice" but also to "undermine the propaganda of the Ukrainian authorities introducing the thesis of the 'occupation' of Crimea in 2014." After recognizing the decision of 1954 as invalid, it will be "much more difficult for Ukraine's allies to support Kyiv's claims to return Crimea to Ukraine," believe the authors of the bill.

The initiative was put forward by deputy Konstantin Zatulin and senator Sergey Tsekov (both from United Russia). As noted by Sota, Zatulin has proposed to declare the transfer of Crimea invalid at least three times in the last seven years. The last time he made such a proposal was in February 2024.

Panorama of the destruction in Sevastopol, 1942. Photo: ullstein bild Dtl. / Contributor

After the dissolution of the USSR, Russia recognized the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, as confirmed by bilateral agreements. In 2008, Vladimir Putin, then serving as Prime Minister, affirmed Russia's recognition of Ukraine's borders. "Crimea is not a disputed territory. Russia has long recognized the borders of today's Ukraine," Putin stated at the time.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea following a referendum held with Moscow's support and the presence of Russian forces. According to officially announced results, the vast majority of the population voted to join the Russian Federation. However, the referendum was deemed illegitimate under the Ukrainian constitution. The international community, with few exceptions, continues to consider Crimea as part of Ukraine.