Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation Yanukovych. At the end of the meeting Putin remarked that "we must start working on returning Crimea to Russia". On 23 February, pro-Russian demonstrations were held in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. On 27 February masked Russian troops without insignia took over the Supreme Council (parliament) of Crimea, and captured strategic sites across Crimea, which led to the installation of the pro-Russian Aksyonov government in Crimea, the conducting of the Crimean status referendum and the declaration of Crimea's independence on 16 March 2014. Russia formally incorporated Crimea as two federal subjects of the Russian Federation with effect from 18 March
Crimea in the Turkvision Song Contest Crimea in the Turkvision Song Contest Crimea has participated in the Turkvision Song Contest twice since its debut in . The Crimean broadcaster, Crimea Public Radio and Television (CPRT), has been the organiser for the Crimean entry since its debut in the contest. In 2013, Crimea's first entry at Turkvision, Elvira Sarihalil, failed to qualify for the grand final. Crimea made their debut in the Turkvision Song Contest at the 2013 festival, in Eskişehir, Turkey. Originally it was announced that Fazile Ibraimova would be representing Crimea in the contest, however it was later clarified that she was representing Ukraine. Crimea