Occupation and annexation of Crimea in the context of international law

In this thesis, the Russia occupation and annexation of Crimea, an autonomous republic affiliated to Ukraine, as a result of Euromaidan, which started in Kiev, the capital of the Ukrainian Republic, and turned into an international problem, will be examined within the scope of the prohibition of use of force and self-determination. After the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Ukraine gained its independence and is on the way to becoming a nation-state. However, with the coming to power of Vladimir Putin, the influence of Russia, which is the successor of the USSR, on Ukraine increased, and this situation caused social and political problems in Ukraine, which is both geographically and structurally close to Europe. Especially after the Ukrainian Government abandoned the "Deepened EU Eastern Partnership" project, which was initialed in 2010 and planned to be signed in 2013, the problems and divergences have increased. This instability also spread to Crimea, and the Autonomous region, the majority of which was Russia, was occupied by Russia for various reasons and then annexed. In the thesis, the Russian intervention in Crimea and the independence declared after it and joining the Russia will be discussed. Examination; will be limited to the concepts of occupation and annexation, the prohibition of use of force, the right to self-determination and guarantor agreements. In the thesis, firstly the general view of Crimea will be explained and then the international status of Crimea in the historical process will be mentioned. Finally, the occupation and annexation process of Russia and Crimea will be explained. Then, the prohibition of use of force in international law and the right to self-determination will be emphasized, and the situation of the annexation in terms of international law will be evaluated in the light of the United Nations (UN) Charter and international conventions.