The constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the basic law of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a republic on the Crimean peninsula as part of Ukraine. The constitution establishes the republic's status and authority within Ukraine. It granted Crimea the right to draft a budget and manage its own property. The constitution was repealed by a disputed referendum during the 2014 Crimean crisis, after which the Republic of Crimea was established as a federal subject of Russia after the annexation of the peninsula. The Ukrainian government has refused to recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia and still recognizes the constitution as active.
History
After a referendum on 20 January 1991, Crimea regained its status as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. As this was months before the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine on 24 August 1991 — by December 1991 internationally recognized — Crimea was at the time part of the Ukrainian SSR which was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union. In February 1992, the Crimean parliament changed Crimea into "Republic of Crimea" and the Ukrainian government with the objective of allowing them more self-governance. On 5 May 1992, parliament declared Crimea independent, which was yet to be approved by a referendum to be held 2 August 1992, and passed the first Crimean constitution the same day. On 6 May 1992, the same parliament inserted a new sentence into this constitution stating that Crimea was part of Ukraine. The Ukrainian parliament convened on May 15, annulled the Crimean declaration of independence and gave the Crimean parliament one week to cancel the referendum. In June 1992, the parties reached a compromise and Crimea was designated the status of "Autonomous Republic". In May 1994, the Crimean parliament voted to restore the May 1992 Constitution. In September 1994, President of CrimeaYuriy Meshkov and parliament decided to write a new constitution. On 17 March 1995, the Verkhovna Rada abolished the May 1992 Constitution and the post of President of Crimea. From June until September 1995, Ukrainian PresidentLeonid Kuchma governed Crimea under a direct presidential administration decree. In October 1995, the Crimean parliament adopted a new Constitution which was not recognized by the Ukrainian national authorities until April 1996 when significant amendments were suggested. A fifth draft law of the October 1995 constitution was ratified on 21 October 1998 at the second session of the Crimean Verkhovna Rada. The Verkhovna Rada confirmed this constitution on 23 December 1998. It came into effect on 12 January 1999. During the Crimean Crisis, the Crimean authority repealed the 1998 Crimean Constitution after the 2014 Crimean status referendum.
