Part 9 «August, 1994»
Part 8. "Split"
Part 7. "Separatists Begin and …Lose"
Part 6. "At the Peak of the Fleet-Wide Psychosis"
Part 5 “It Nearly Came to War”
Part 4. “Sevastopol - Crimea – Russia”
Part 3. “How the Black Sea Fleet Was Divided “Fraternally”
Part 2. “Black Sea Fleet on the Scales of Political Tender“
Part 1. “The Russian Federation’s Black Sea Fleet and National Security of Ukraine”
"...Anti-Constitutional actions in the period of 11-13th September, 1994. In his turn, the "President" of the Crimea strongly objected to it and refused to dismiss his Government, headed by Ye. Saburov. At the same time, in order to keep power in his hands, he proposed to create a so-called "technical government" out of representatives of non-party members experts who did not need to be adopted by the Supreme Council of the Crimea. By this Yu.Meshkov tried to delay the appointment of a permanent government at least until next spring."
Thus ended the previous 9 part of the material "Crimea 94"
Crimea 10. «How Was Being Introduced a Control of the Uncontrollable Situation»
Political battles between different branches of the Crimean authorities did not affect anti-Ukrainian forces of the Peninsula, persistently trying to return the Crimea and Sevastopol under the authority of Russia. Against the background of the having drawn the mouths moans of the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet E.Baltin about "the inadmissibility of division of the Black Sea Fleet " (which, according to Moscow, would have meant its destruction), the Russian side was creating quite effective levers for achieving its interests, in particular, by involving in its orbit of influence the young population of the Peninsula.
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| In Sevastopol is being organized an Initiative Group for the establishment of the Navy Lyceum of the Russian Navy at base of the former Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School http://new-sebastopol.com/ |
So, for this purpose, in Sevastopol was being organized an initiative group to establish a Naval Lyceum of the Russian Navy at the base of the former Admiral Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School.
Pro-Russian forces of Sevastopol proposed to subordinate the Lyceum to the Ministries of Defense and Education of the Russian Federation. It was planned to give the patronage over this educational institution to the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. Students of the Lyceum were supposed to be from the number of pupils who had completed four years of a secondary school in Ukraine.
Before the implementation of this idea, military and civilian educational institutions of Russia had already accepted 600 children from families of the Black Sea Fleet servicemen. The Coordination Council of the Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Community of Sevastopol petitioned about this before the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Later, all these students were granted Russian citizenship.
***
On the 24th of September, in Sevastopol, talks were held between the delegation of the Supreme Council of the Crimea and the "President" of the Autonomy Yu.Meshkov. The talks failed. The MPs insisted on cancelling the decrees of the "President" on dissolution of the executive authorities, as well as on dismissal of the Government of the Peninsula. As to Yu.Meshkov, he demanded that the Supreme Council of the Crimea should cancel the limiting his powers Parliament’s amendments to the Law "On the President of the Republic of the Crimea."
On the eve of the talks in almost all cities and regions of the Crimea, was held an Extraordinary Session of local Councils, in which was voiced a deep concern over the political developments in the ARC. Most of Deputies condemned the actions of Yu.Meshkov, and expressed distrust to the Chief Executive of the Crimea and to the Government of the Autonomy. Against Yu.Meshkov acted even his own Republican Party of the Crimea, which put on the agenda the issue of expelling him from the party. In particular, Sudak’s branch of the RPC, which used to most actively support Yu.Meshkov, in its statement accused him of going away from their electoral program and of violating the Constitution of the Crimea. The statement also included a demand to dismiss Yu.Meshkov and to cancel the institution of Presidency in the Crimea.
Such a development of events was undermining the Crimean population’s confidence in both branches of the Crimean Government, confrontation between which was becoming more and more ugly.
***
The same opinion was shared by the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet. It was not satisfied with the "passive position" of Russia regarding the Crimean events . Especially because Russian Admirals did not want to put up with the situation and continued to demonstrate strength in the Crimean Peninsula in the form of "combat trainings of the Fleet."
Thus, they unfolded tactical trainings of different forces of the BSF, during which were worked out defensive tasks of rejecting an enemy’s attacks. Involved in the trainings were amphibious ships and missile ships, ground attack aircraft, units of marines and coastal troops of the Black Sea Fleet.
To achieve maximum political effect, on the Crimean firing fields there were practical missile firing and bombing. By the way, the Black Sea Fleet servicemen had been deliberately antagonized against Ukraine and its Armed Forces.
In particular, with a provocation purpose the Commandment of the BSF ordered the personnel of the military service of the Fleet to move about the territory of the Sevastopol garrison only in groups, explaining this by "the need to be able to resist unlawful actions of the Ukrainian Navy patrols."
***
On the 24th of September, 1994, without waiting for Yu.Meshkov’s concessions, the Crimean Parliament once again tried to take under a full control the situation in the Crimea. By the majority of votes of the Supreme Council of the Crimea was adopted the Law "On the Government of the Crimea", depriving Yu.Meshkov of the right to form a Cabinet of Ministers of the Autonomy. Yu.Meshkov saw this decision as "the final of an anti-Constitutional coup in the Crimea."
Against this background, the leader of the Crimean Communists L.Grach called for the unconditional return of the Crimea to the Ukrainian legislation in due time determined by the Supreme Council of Ukraine: by the 1st of November, 1994.
***
All this could not fail to attract the attention of the Black Sea Fleet Commandment. On the 30th of September in Sevastopol there was a meeting of the BSF servicemen and activists of local pro-Russian organizations with Deputies of the Supreme Council of the Crimea - officers of the Black Sea Fleet, during which the leaders of factions of the Crimean Parliament were accused of having committed a coup in the ARC.
By the way, despite all the statements about the "importance of the Black Sea Fleet for protection of national interests of Russia", the leadership of the Russian Federation was carrying out permanent reduction of the BSF. Thus, in accordance with the Directive of the Civil Code of the Russian Navy, by the end of 1994 it was planned to reduce the 30-th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, as well as logistics units at the airfield of Vesyoloye. Radio navigation equipment, automotive equipment and other property (as always, without coordination with Ukraine) were being moved to the controlled by the BSF airfields of Kacha and Oktyabrskoye.
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In Donuzlav aircrafts Бе-12 had been prepared for being moved to Kacha http://www.be-12.info/ |
At the same time, at the expense of reduced parts of the Black Sea Fleet, in Kacha was being formed a division of different forces of the Air Force of the BSF. For this purpose, in Donuzlav aircrafts Be-12, as well as helicopters Ka-25 and Ka-27 were being prepared for being thrown over to Kacha.
***
However, no matter what seemed to the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet, political forces of Russia remembered the Crimea and Sevastopol. Thus, both, members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, and representatives of the Russian ultra-right organizations took part in actions of pro-Russian forces of Sevastopol , devoted to the anniversary of the events in Moscow on 3-4 October, 1993.
***
But the struggle for power in the Crimea continued with unabated severity. On the 5th of October, 1994 the Parliament of the ARC adopted further amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Crimean Autonomy, according to which the entire executive branch of the Peninsula was passed over to the Government of the Crimea. At this, the right to submit the candidacy for the Prime Minister to be approved by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea went from the "President" to the Speaker of the Parliament of the Peninsula. The Parliament also got the right by two-thirds of Parliamentary votes to dismiss the "President" of the Crimea.
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| On the 6th of October A. Franchuk was elected Prime Minister of the ARC http://investigator.org.ua/ |
In accordance with such new procedures, on the 6th of October, the Prime Minister of the ARC was elected the Minister of State Enterprises A.Franchuk. Thus in the Crimea were formed two "legitimate" Governments, as Yu.Meshkov refused to submit to the demands of the Crimean Parliament to dismiss his Cabinet of Ministers.
In this situation, for the return of a Parliamentary system of government in the Crimea were the Head of the Supreme Council S.Tsekov, the leader of the Crimean Communists L.Grach, as well as agricultural, Crimean Tatar and other Parliamentary factions of the ARC. In its turn, on the preservation of the Presidency in the Autonomy insisted the "Russian Unity" faction.
Its own vision of the situation in the Crimea had Sevastopol’s City Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Thus, according to Sevastopol communists, Yu.Meshkov, who had tried to make a coup in the ARC, had to be immediately removed from power and the institution of Presidency itself had to be liquidated. Besides, Communists demanded early elections for the Supreme Council of the Crimea, stating that its Deputies were personally responsible for the political crisis in the Peninsula.
***
In these circumstances, trying to attract to its side the leadership of Ukraine, the Supreme Council of the Crimea was actively demonstrating its willingness to compromise regarding the status of the Peninsula. So, against the background of the confrontation with the Presidential power of the ARC, Deputies of the Crimean Parliament had formed a delegation of 13 people with S. Tsekov at head, for talks with the Supreme Council of Ukraine.
***
In response to the decisions of the Parliament, Yu.Meshkov tried to use the remaining levers of executive power in order to preserve his positions. Thus, on the 6th of October, 1994 the Law Office of the Administration of the "President" of the ARC made an appeal to the citizens of the Autonomy, accusing the Parliament of an attempt to eliminate the "institution of Presidency of the Crimea." At this, the actions of Deputies were classified as "anti-Constitutional" and those that "threaten the very existence of the statehood of the Republic of the Crimea."
On the same day Yu.Meshkov delivered a speech before the Deputies of the Crimean Parliament, accusing the Supreme Council of the Crimea of the "completion of the Constitutional coup and usurpation of power." On this basis, the "President" of the Crimea said that he intended to seek a support of the population of the Peninsula, as well as to ask the leadership of Ukraine to influence the political situation in the ARC. According to him, the Constitutional crisis in the Peninsula could be sorted out only by the Supreme Council of Ukraine. At this, Yu.Meshkov called a "political mistake" the restoration of the Crimean Constitution of May 6, 1992, because it had led to a breach of legal space of Ukraine.
At the same time got activated the Sevastopol branch of the All-Crimea Movement of Voters, traditionally being on the side of Yu.Meshkov. In particular, its activists initiated mass actions in support of the "President" of the the Crimea.
***
Against the background of political chaos in the Crimea, pro-Russian organizations of Sevastopol tried to discredit the Armed Forces and the National Guard of Ukraine, accusing, in particular, Ukrainian patrols of the "hooliganism" in their attitude to the Black Sea Fleet and the people of the city.
However, most of these organizations were already losing their authority because of the constant financial scandals in their leadership. To rescue this authority came Head of a Group of Consulters on International Affairs of the Council of Federation of Russia A.Shatohin. He met with the leaders of pro-Russian movements of the city and called them to intensify their united efforts for putting to life the official setting of Moscow to grant a Russian legal status to Sevastopol as well as to preserve it as the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
At a meeting with the Black Sea Fleet servicemen, A. Shatokhin paid particular attention to " problems of the Slavic world" and "Russian unity." He accused the former Soviet Union of "betraying national interests", and called Gorbachev's perestroika "a successful operation against the Soviet Union, which saved the USA from the impending economic, political and environmental catastrophe."
***
On the 16th of Octobe, the Supreme Council of the Crimea approved the proposed by A.Franchuk staff of the Government. According to the majority of the Crimean politicians, it opened the way to stabilizing the situation in the Peninsula.
Different opinions had the leader of the Communist Party of the Crimea L.Grach, accusing the new Government of the ARC of being unable to carry out effective economic reforms.
Pro-Russian forces of the Crimea kept actively supporting the policy of separation of the Peninsula from Ukraine. In particular, according to the leader of the Russian Block of the ARC S.Shuvaynikov, his party was struggling for disintegration of the Peninsula from Ukraine, and if the Supreme Council of Ukraine "deprived the Crimea of statehood", the process of renewal of the "Russian status" of the ARC would inevitably turn into armed confrontation.
***
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| http://igpi.ru/monitoring/ukraine/krym/ |
On the 17th of October, 1994 to the Black Sea Fleet came another delegation of the State Duma of Russia. In the course of meetings with the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet, were discussed questions of preservation in Sevastopol of the main base of the Fleet and its current problems. According to the results of their work, the MPs prepared a report on the situation in the Crimea, as well as on the state of armaments, logistics and financing of the Fleet. These materials had been submitted to be studied by the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The documents were making an accent on the absolute necessity to return the Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation.
However, the ambitions of the Russian side did not only concern the Crimea and Sevastopol, but the entire Black Sea region. In particular, the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet expressed its extreme dissatisfaction with the plans of preparation in the Black Sea for international military trainings "Black Sea Harmony", initiated by the United States. In coordination with the leadership of the Russian Federation, the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet deliberately ignored the invitation of the American side to take part in the preparations for these trainings, which were carried out by the Headquarters of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy in the Italian city of Gaeta. At this, the Commandment of the Black Sea Fleet stated that the activity of the US Navy in the Black Sea did not meet Russia's interests and could put an end to "the superiority of Black Sea Fleet in the region."
***
Meanwhile, the political confrontation in the Crimea was taking more and more absurd forms, sometimes resembling a trivial quarrel in a communal flat. Thus, the Deputy Head of the Supreme Council of the Crimea O.Melnikov was building intrigues against Yu.Meshkov, and that was causing a sharply negative reaction of supporters of the "President" in the Sevastopol branch of the RPC / RDC. In particular, they started to collect signatures to deprive O.Melnikov of his MP mandate.
Against the Supreme Council of the Crimea was actively speaking the Coordinating Council of All-Crimea Movement of Voters for the Republic of the Crimea, which called for a referendum on the issue of deprivation of the Parliament of the ARC, and the removal of all its decisions on the executive branch of power. In the Sevastopol branch of the Coordinating Council there began re-registration of members of the organization in order to identify and expel Yu.Meshkov’s supporters.
Apart from other things, the political confrontation in the ARC had led to the collapse of the Republican Party of the Crimea. It got divided into two factions. One faction was supporting the "President" of the Crimea, and the other - the Parliament of the ARC.
***
On the 25th of October the situation in the Crimea and at the Black Sea Fleet was considered at a meeting of the Russian State Duma’s Committee on Geopolitics. To the meeting were invited representatives of the Black Sea Fleet Commandment. They were assured that the leadership of the Russian Federation had been supporting the Black Sea Fleet, and the latter had to be kept in Sevastopol by all means.
***
Despite the best efforts of the Crimean pro-Russian forces, trying to prevent the return of the ARC into the Ukrainian political field, on the 27th of October, 1994 the Crimean Parliament began the consideration of the question of bringing the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic in accordance with the Law of Ukraine. First of all this regarded to the provisions on the status of the ARC, as well as the issue of the dual nationality of the inhabitants of the Autonomy.
As expected, this was opposed by the "Russian Unity" and "Crimea" factions of the Crimean Parliament. They insisted on full independence of the Crimea from Ukraine.
***
At that moment, the "President" of the Crimea and his environment took a wait-and- see attitude, while closely tracking actions of the Parliament of the Autonomy. Based on the decisions of the Supreme Council of the Crimea, it was supposed to build a future strategy for preserving Presidential power in the Crimea. Thus, in case of adoption by the Parliament of the decision on bringing the legislation of the Crimea into conformity with the Constitution of Ukraine, Yu.Meshkov could accuse the Supreme Council of the Autonomy of distruction "of the Crimean-Russian" idea around which had been consolidating loyal to him pro-Russian forces.
Yu.Meshkov’s actions were quite widely supported by his supporters. In particular, in Simferopol and Sevastopol was gaining momentum an initiative to collect signatures in demand of a referendum on the early dismissal of the Supreme Council of the Crimea, as well as on cancelling "anti-presidential acts" between the 7th and 29th September, 1994. At this, it was taken into account that if the rating of the current Parliament fell, chances of supporters of Yu.Meshkov to be elected to the Supreme Council of the ARC at possible early elections, would grow high.
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These circumstances were taken into account by the leadership of the Supreme Council of Crimea, too. It tried to maneuver between loyalty to Ukraine and commitment to the "Russian idea" of the Crimean Peninsula. Thus, on the 31st of October, 1994 to the consideration by the Crimean Parliament was passed over a completely different than the announced earlier, draft of the Law on bringing the legislation of the ARC into accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine. In particular, from it was withdrawn the term "autonomy", while the supreme Law in the Peninsula was the Constitution of the Crimea. At this, the Constitution of Ukraine was not even mentioned.
Commenting on the situation, the Head of the Supreme Council of the Crimea S.Tsekov said that the Crimean Parliament would never fulfill the demand of Ukraine's leadership to dismiss it and would not terminate its work. He also did not exclude a referendum on independence of the Crimea, which, according to him, was being demanded by majority of MPs.
At the same time to the State Duma of Russia a group of Deputies of the Supreme Council of the Crimea and of Sevastopol City Council, sent a letter with a proposal to adopt a law on consolidation "of the Russian federal status of Sevastopol" in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
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Apart from the central government of the Russian Federation, actively involved in supporting the Russian Black Sea Fleet were also non-governmental organizations of sponsors. In particular, on the cost of patronage money from the Krasnodar region, were carried out dock repairs of the reconnaissance ship "M.Rudnitskiy."
But despite such an assistance, the morale of servicemen of the BSF was rapidly deteriorating. Thus, according to sociological studies, among the servicemen of the Black Sea Fleet (in the category of warrant officer up to 30 years), 10% - admitted that the service was not their main source of income, and 7% - had found a permanent job in commercial structures, where they worked in spare time.
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However, in the current situation in the Peninsula, the Crimean Parliament was still avoiding an open confrontation with Ukraine. On the 4th of November, 1994 at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the ARC was considered 9 variants of the conciliation law on the Constitution of the Crimea. The Speaker of the Parliament S.Tsekov urged deputies to accept the bill, which had been agreed with Ukraine. However, the majority of MPs refused to support him, promising to struggle for the full autonomy of the Crimea.
At thas moment, provoking tension in Sevastopol, the Press Center of the Black Sea Fleet issued a statement accusing the authorities of Military Security Service of Ukraine of hostile actions against the BSF servicemen.
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Trying "to play the two sides," the Deputies of the Crimean Parliament were delaying a decision on bringing the Constitution of the Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine. On the 5th of November the issue was once again discussed at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Crimea, but again to no avail. The majority of MPs called to lift the moratorium on holding an All-Crimea referendum on the status of the Crimean Peninsula. As usual, it was suggested to apply for help to the State Duma and the Council of Federation of Russia.
To eyewash, it was decided to create a Conciliatory Commission with the Supreme Council of Ukraine. The faction of the Crimean Tatars refused to participate in this farce.
***
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| http://igpi.ru/monitoring/ukraine/krym/ |
Another reason for the rampant anti-Ukrainian orgy in the Crimea was the celebration of the 77th anniversary of the communist takeover in 1917. On the 6th of November, 1994 in Sevastopol ‘s Nakhimov Square there was a meeting of RPK / RDC, devoted to the victims of the civil war in Russia. It's hard to say why, but suddenly the protesters denounced Gorbachev for the collapse of the Soviet Union and Boris Yeltsin - for "hesitation in solving problems of the Black Sea Fleet and of the Russian-speaking population of the Crimea". Special attention was paid to the upcoming, planned for November 15, 1994 discussion in the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the question about the status of Sevastopol. On the same 7th of November, in Nakhimov Square, Communists and Socialists held their own meeting. In their speeches representatives of these parties criticized the program of reforms proposed by President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, and called to restore socialism and the USSR. At this, Communists and Socialists accused the RPC / RDK of fomenting anti-communist hysteria in the Crimea, which was another manifestation of the deep split among pro-Russian forces of the Peninsula.
Activists of the “Russian Patriotic Council” had their meeting in Sevastopol too. At the meeting its head G.Kruglov told about his trip to Moscow, where he had met with representatives of Russian nationalist forces, including Rutskoy, S. Baburin and Vladimir Zhirinovsky. The meeting adopted a resolution demanding that Russian President Boris Yeltsin should let RPI to negotiations on the Black Sea Fleet, as well as to the development of special measures for transferring Sevastopol under Russian jurisdiction.
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In particular, one of the ways to achieve this goal had to be a mass obtaining citizenship of the Russian Federation by citizens of Sevastopol, which was supposed to be used as a justification for the recognition by the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the "Russian status" of the city. For this purpose, the Russian community of Sevastopol, with the support of the Black Sea Fleet Commandment, was actively working on giving Russian passports to residents of Sevastopol. A Russian consulate group was expected to arrive in Sevastopol, which was to confirm the Russian citizenship of Sevastopolites.
However, this process did not effect the reduction of the Fleet. Thus, at the Black Sea Fleet continued reassignments of officers due to liquidation of a number of Naval personnel structures. Parts of the officers were offered to continue to serve in the Northern and Pacific Fleets. Those who refused, were taken out of staff for a period of three months, and then transferred to the reserve “for redundancy”. Naturally, it could not help undermining the prestige of the naval service.
The Course to Confrontation
Meanwhile, relying on the promised Moscow's support, the Supreme Council of the Crimea again started to sharpen relations with Ukraine. On the 10th of November, 1994 at the plenary session of the Crimean Parliament was adopted an appeal to the President and the Supreme Council of Ukraine, which was actually a response to the Constitutional demands of the Ukrainian side. Categorically refusing to bring the Constitution of the ARC in accordance with the Main Law of Ukraine, the Parliament of the Crimean Autonomy explained its position as follows:
- Firstly, having adopted the Constitution of May 6, 1992, the Supreme Council of the Crimea "fulfilled the will of the inhabitants of the Crimea for independence of the Peninsula", expressed in the referendum of 27th April, 1994;
- secondly, the Parliament of the Crimea "sees no reason for bringing the newly adopted Constitution of the Crimea in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine of 1978, relating back to Soviet times."
At the same time, the Ukrainian side was proposed to divide the political powers with the Crimea, as well as to adopt a law on the division of property between the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea and Ukraine.
At this, Deputies of the Supreme Council of the Crimea completed the six-month work of the first Session of the Parliament.The beginning of the second Session was scheduled for the 30th of November, 1994. This way, the Crimean Parliament was deliberately thwarting the time limits for bringing the Constitution of the ARC into line with the Main Law of Ukraine.
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On the 14th of November, 1994 the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet E.Baltin left for Moscow to participate in the work of the State Duma of Russia. Speaking to MPs, he declared the position of the Black Sea Fleet Commandment and of separatist forces of the Crimea, who insisted on the necessity of maintaining the military presence of Russia in the Crimea, and above all - in Sevastopol. According to E.Baltin, the Black Sea Fleet could not be divided between Ukraine and Russia for the following reasons:
- "Division of the BSF will remove it from the political processes taking place in the Crimea";
- "Ukraine is unable to keep a fleet due to the economic crisis";
- "the infrastructure of Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet got fused to such an extent that they cannot be separated."
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| Missile and artillery firing at air and sea targets http://www.avanturist.org/ |
All these statements were accompanied by trainings of the Black Sea Fleet. Thus, warships from the 30th Division of Anti-Submarine Ships (including "Azov" and "Kerch" and guard ships "Ladnyi" and "Bezukoriznennyi") conducted missile and artillery firing at air and sea targets. In the firing participated subunits from the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the BSF.
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On the 16th of November, 1994, summing up the meeting of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, (in which participated E.Baltin), Russian MPs issued a statement about the need to preserve the system of basing of the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea with the main base in Sevastopol, as well as about the impossibility of the Black Sea Fleet and Naval Forces of Ukraine shared basing in the Crimea. For this it was supposed to unite and coordinate the efforts of all Ministries and departments of Russia, thereby strengthening the pressure on Ukraine, especially in the economic sphere.
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In turn, after the discussion of all aspects of the political and legal situation in the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, on the 17th of November, 1994 the Supreme Council of Ukraine by the majority of votes cancelled about 40 adopted by the Parliament of the Crimea acts because of their inconsistency with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.
This caused a sharp negative reaction of the leadership of the Crimea. Thus, the very next day, the Speaker of the Crimean Parliament S.Tsekov made a special statement, in which he expressed the intention of the supreme legislative body of the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea either to cancel the decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, or to ignore it.
A similar position was demonstrated at a press conference by the leaders of the Crimean Parliament on the 21st of November in Simferopol. At the same time it was stated that the decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine "undermines the foundations of statehood of the Crimea", so all hope was for help from Russia.
But the decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine was supported by Deputies of the Crimean Parliament from "Kurultaj" and "Unity" factions.
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Russian aid to Crimean separatists was not long in coming. On the 22nd of November, 1994 Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Crimea V.Mezhak informed the Presidium of the Crimean Parliament on the results of the participation of the delegation of the Supreme Council of the Crimea in the considering by the State Duma of Russia of the Crimean issue. According to him, the Russian State Duma would not ratify the basic political treaty with Ukraine, because it does not quite take into consideration interests of the Crimea. At the same time V.Mezhak informed about Russian plans to soon open a visiting Russian consulate in Simferopol to help those who wish to get Russian citizenship.
At the same time, the State Duma of Russia issued a direct condemnation of the decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine on cancelling legal acts of the ARC, accusing the Ukrainian side of the "categorical actions in regard to the Crimea."
***
By the way, Russia, constantly reminding of the "importance of the Black Sea Fleet for Russia’s interests in the Crimea," did not stop its permanent reduction. Thus, in late November 1994, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation signed a decree on downsizing of the 872-th Separate Anti-Submarine Regiment from 51 to 31 crews, reformation of the 39th Division of Landing Forces of the Crimean Naval Base into the 197 Brigade of Landing Ships, as well as to downsize the 17th Brigade of Water Region Guard to the level of a division. The officers and warrant officers were transferred to new places of service beyond the Crimea, or, as it was mentioned above, fired into reserve.
And even in such a situation, the Black Sea Fleet kept actively interfere into political processes of the Peninsula, into relations between Ukraine and Russia, into matters of division of the BSF included. On the 29th of November, 1994 a group of Black Sea Fleet officers openly appealed to the Presidents and Parliaments of Ukraine and Russia with the demand to maintain a sole BSF.
At the same time, in the garrison of the Black Sea Fleet Oktyabrskoe, began its work a regional television center of the independent television company of the Crimea "Atlant-sv-channel " founded by the former officer of headquarters of reconnaissance aviation of the BSF V.Shpilkin. The TV centre was organized and sponsored by pro-Russian political organizations and connected with them commercial structures, with the support of the Black Sea Fleet Commandment. The main goal of the television centre was to conduct chauvinistic propaganda among the servicemen of the BSF and population of the Crimea.
***
The Black Sea Fleet Commandment kept creating problems in the questions of formation of the Ukrainian Navy. There had been attempts to prevent the transfer to the Ukrainian side of objects of infrastructure of the BSF, which was released after the reduction. Including those items that had to be transferred to Ukraine within the framework of the relevant agreements.
Russian Admirals were implementing their personal business interests as well. Thus, funds of the headquarters and the coast base of the disbanded 14th Division of Submarines that had to go to Ukraine, were transferred to the balance of the Balaklava District Executive Committee.
That, in turn, passed them on to commercial structures of Sevastopol. Thus, it was on former infrastructure of Black Sea Fleet that Russian economic partnership of reservists was based , and which was actively developing the established links with pro-Russian organizations of the Crimea.
And at the same time, all attempts of the Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral V.Bezkorovaynyi to put this process into the frames of the legal field kept meeting open resistance of the government of Sevastopol.
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