MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers have submitted a draft bill to the State Duma that would rewrite a chapter of history by nullifying the Soviet decision in 1954 to transfer Crimea from Russia to Ukraine.
The move appears aimed at establishing a legal basis for Russia to argue that Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula which it claims to have annexed from Ukraine in 2014, was never really part of Ukraine to begin with.
The draft, submitted by a lawmaker from each of Russia’s two houses of parliament, describes the 1954 handover as arbitrary and illegal because no referendum was held and Soviet authorities had no right to transfer territory from one constituent republic to another without consent.
Is this because Ukraine forgot to say “no taksie backsies” when this was originally passed?
It’s because Russia had crossed their fingers behind their back while agreeing.
Both of these things are about as strong as some kind of “lawful résolution” during a time if war.
“Oh, we’re going to punch you in the face and that lunch money we stole earlier? Billy said you gave it to me.”