Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Autonomous Republic of Crimea Автономна Республіка Крим Автономная Республика Крым Qırım Muhtar Cumhuriyeti
Coat of arms of Crimea Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  "Процветание в единстве" Protsvetaniye v yedinstve(transliteration) Prosperity in Unity
Anthem:  "Нивы и горы твои волшебны, Родина" Nivy i gory tvoi volshebny, Rodina(transliteration) Your fields and mountains are magical, Motherland
File:Crimea in Ukraine.svg
Status	Exile
Capital	Simferopola
Official languages	Ukrainian
Recognized regional languages	Russian, Crimean Tatarb
Ethnic groups (2001)	58.32% Russians 24.32% Ukrainians 12.1% Crimean Tatars
Government	Autonomous republic
•  Presidential Representative	Nataliya Popovych
Legislature	Supreme Council
Establishment
• Autonomy	12 February 1991
• Constitution	21 October 1998
Area
• Total	26,100 km2 (10,100 sq mi) (148th)
Population
• 2014 estimate	1,966,801
• 2001 census	2,033,700
• Density	75.6/km2 (195.8/sq mi) (116th)
Calling code	+380e
ISO 3166 code	UA-43
Internet TLD	.crimea.uad
Ukraine has not formed a government-in-exile for Crimea. On May 17, 2014, the Crimean Presidential Representative moved to Kherson, which is the only existing authority for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Because Ukrainian is the only state language in Ukraine, no other language may be official, although according to the Constitution of Crimea, Russian is the language of inter-ethnic communication. However, government duties are fulfilled mainly in Russian, hence it is a de facto official language. Crimean Tatar is also used. The Crimean Oblast's autonomy was restored when it became the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the newly independent Ukraine. Not officially assigned. +380 65 for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, +380 692 for the administratively separate City of Sevastopol.

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukrainian: Автономна Республіка Крим), Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Crimean Tatar: Qırım Muhtar Cumhuriyeti is a de jure autonomous republic of Ukraine covering most of the Crimean Peninsula, though the Russian Federation administers the territory as a federal subject, the Republic of Crimea, since March 2014. It is subject to a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia, with most foreign governments recognizing it as Ukrainian territory. It has a population of 1,965,177.

The Crimean Peninsula has been outside the control of Ukrainian authorities since late February 2014, when Russian Armed Forces and pro-Russian separatists occupied the region. In March 2014, a popular referendum in support of reunification with Russia (See annexation to Russia) was held in Crimea and Sevastopol, although the vote was disavowed by Ukraine and did not enjoy widespread international recognition. Within days, Russia absorbed the peninsula. Russia and six other UN member states recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation; Ukraine continues to claim Crimea as an integral part of its territory, supported by most of the international community.

Under Ukrainian law, Crimea is considered an autonomous parliamentary republic within Ukraine, which is governed by the Constitution of Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine. The capital of the autonomous republic is the city of Simferopol, located in the center of the peninsula. The city of Sevastopol is a separate administrative unit and is considered a city with special status, like the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev.