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2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia | |||
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Date | 29 May – 4 June 2006 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Anti- NATO sentiment amongst residents of Feodosia | ||
Goals | Cancellation of joint Ukrainian- U.S. military exercise | ||
Methods | |||
Resulted in | Joint military exercise being cancelled | ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Number | |||
|
Anti- NATO protests (including one riot) took place in the Ukrainian port city of Feodosia from late May to early June 2006, partially disrupting a joint Ukrainian- U.S. military exercise, which was canceled 20 July 2006. [1]
The military Ukraine- NATO Partnership for Peace military exercise Sea Breeze 2006 exercise (in Crimea) was scheduled to take place in Ukraine starting 17 July 2006. [2] [3] Its aim was to "simulate the defence of a peninsula caught between a totalitarian state and a democratic one." [3] "Sea Breeze" manoeuvres had been held annually since 1997. [3] Another British-Ukrainian war-game called "Tight Knot" was scheduled to start on 14 June 2006 (near Mykolaiv). [3]
On 4 June 2006, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on preparations of the two war-games.[ citation needed] The approval for the exercises by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) was still pending early June 2006 because after the parliamentary election of March 2006 it resumed its work on 7 June 2006. [4] In February 2006 the Verkhovna Rada elected before the 2006 election rejected a presidential bill on allowing foreign troops to take part in the maneuvers planned for 2006. [4] The Verkhovna Rada was due to vote on the same bill on 7 June 2006, but decided to adjourn until 14 June. [2] [5]
On 6 June 2006, the Crimean legislature declared Crimea a "NATO-free territory". [3] [5]
On 27 May 2006, the United States (U.S.) cargo ship Advantage anchored in Feodosia, bringing what Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko described as U.S. "technical aid." [4] Unarmed [3] seamen offloaded construction materials to build barracks for Ukrainian sailors at a training range near the town of Stary Krym, not far from Feodosia. [4] Two days later, Feodosia residents, mobilized by local chapters of the Party of Regions, the Nataliya Vitrenko Bloc, and the Russian Community of Crimea, began to picket the port, [4] displaying anti-NATO slogans written in Russian and blocking U.S. cargo from getting to its destination. [4]
Together with Advantage, 200 U.S. Marine Corps reservists arrived to Feodosia. [2] [6] Their mission was to take part in the Sea Breeze 2006 military exercise from 17 July. [2] [3] When the Marine reservists tried to reach the training facility that they were assigned to renovate [6] protesters surrounded their bus, rocking it and trying to smash the windows, eventually forcing the vehicle to head to a military sanatorium, where the reservists remained. [3] Protesters reportedly harassed Marine reservists if they stepped outside their military base. [5] The marines were advised against going into nearby towns for fear of provoking noisy confrontations. [7] On 4 June 2006 U.S. marines began leaving Crimea. [7] American and Ukrainian officials stated because their contract was ending. [7] Associated Press reported that no repair work was done at the base they were assigned to renovate. [6] On June 8 Ukraine and United Kingdom postponed Tight Knot. [6] On 20 July 2006 the United States cancelled Sea Breeze, "due to the situation in the Middle East". [1]
Reportedly the group of protesters rarely consisted of more than a few hundred demonstrators. [4] [7] They accused NATO and the United States of seeking a foothold in Ukraine. [7] The Ukrainian defense ministry stated 2 June 2006 that the planned exercises were not connected with NATO.[ citation needed]
The 2006 Crimean anti-NATO protests did not impact foreign military units to participate in multinational military exercises in Ukraine. [8] Various military exercises (including ones with NATO troops) were held in Crimea since 2006. [8] [9]
According to a poll by Razumkov Center in March 2011 some 51% of the Crimean residents considered NATO a threat, while across Ukraine this rate was 20.6% on average. [10]
This article has multiple issues. Please help
improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. (
Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | 29 May – 4 June 2006 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Anti- NATO sentiment amongst residents of Feodosia | ||
Goals | Cancellation of joint Ukrainian- U.S. military exercise | ||
Methods | |||
Resulted in | Joint military exercise being cancelled | ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Number | |||
|
Anti- NATO protests (including one riot) took place in the Ukrainian port city of Feodosia from late May to early June 2006, partially disrupting a joint Ukrainian- U.S. military exercise, which was canceled 20 July 2006. [1]
The military Ukraine- NATO Partnership for Peace military exercise Sea Breeze 2006 exercise (in Crimea) was scheduled to take place in Ukraine starting 17 July 2006. [2] [3] Its aim was to "simulate the defence of a peninsula caught between a totalitarian state and a democratic one." [3] "Sea Breeze" manoeuvres had been held annually since 1997. [3] Another British-Ukrainian war-game called "Tight Knot" was scheduled to start on 14 June 2006 (near Mykolaiv). [3]
On 4 June 2006, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on preparations of the two war-games.[ citation needed] The approval for the exercises by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) was still pending early June 2006 because after the parliamentary election of March 2006 it resumed its work on 7 June 2006. [4] In February 2006 the Verkhovna Rada elected before the 2006 election rejected a presidential bill on allowing foreign troops to take part in the maneuvers planned for 2006. [4] The Verkhovna Rada was due to vote on the same bill on 7 June 2006, but decided to adjourn until 14 June. [2] [5]
On 6 June 2006, the Crimean legislature declared Crimea a "NATO-free territory". [3] [5]
On 27 May 2006, the United States (U.S.) cargo ship Advantage anchored in Feodosia, bringing what Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko described as U.S. "technical aid." [4] Unarmed [3] seamen offloaded construction materials to build barracks for Ukrainian sailors at a training range near the town of Stary Krym, not far from Feodosia. [4] Two days later, Feodosia residents, mobilized by local chapters of the Party of Regions, the Nataliya Vitrenko Bloc, and the Russian Community of Crimea, began to picket the port, [4] displaying anti-NATO slogans written in Russian and blocking U.S. cargo from getting to its destination. [4]
Together with Advantage, 200 U.S. Marine Corps reservists arrived to Feodosia. [2] [6] Their mission was to take part in the Sea Breeze 2006 military exercise from 17 July. [2] [3] When the Marine reservists tried to reach the training facility that they were assigned to renovate [6] protesters surrounded their bus, rocking it and trying to smash the windows, eventually forcing the vehicle to head to a military sanatorium, where the reservists remained. [3] Protesters reportedly harassed Marine reservists if they stepped outside their military base. [5] The marines were advised against going into nearby towns for fear of provoking noisy confrontations. [7] On 4 June 2006 U.S. marines began leaving Crimea. [7] American and Ukrainian officials stated because their contract was ending. [7] Associated Press reported that no repair work was done at the base they were assigned to renovate. [6] On June 8 Ukraine and United Kingdom postponed Tight Knot. [6] On 20 July 2006 the United States cancelled Sea Breeze, "due to the situation in the Middle East". [1]
Reportedly the group of protesters rarely consisted of more than a few hundred demonstrators. [4] [7] They accused NATO and the United States of seeking a foothold in Ukraine. [7] The Ukrainian defense ministry stated 2 June 2006 that the planned exercises were not connected with NATO.[ citation needed]
The 2006 Crimean anti-NATO protests did not impact foreign military units to participate in multinational military exercises in Ukraine. [8] Various military exercises (including ones with NATO troops) were held in Crimea since 2006. [8] [9]
According to a poll by Razumkov Center in March 2011 some 51% of the Crimean residents considered NATO a threat, while across Ukraine this rate was 20.6% on average. [10]