Moscow - Simferopol, February 20 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Nationalization, isolation, rising prices, censorship and fear - these are the results of the transition of Crimea to Russia. This is the conclusion drawn in an editorial by the Moscow liberal newspaper "Vedomosti". The newspaper laments the transfer of the assets of Kolomoisky and Akhmetov to the state, recalls the decline in cargo and passenger traffic, the fact that income growth was eaten up by inflation, the raiding and lawlessness of the security forces, and the dominance of the Varangians in power structures. In general, everything is bad.
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“One of the first steps taken by the authorities of the new Crimea was the nationalization of strategic enterprises (they are forcibly bought out) and the “renationalization” of objects that belonged to Ukraine,” the newspaper writes. – Forests and reserves, sanatoriums, banks and energy companies, agricultural industry and transport have been nationalized. Including Privatbank of Igor Kolomoisky, Krymkhleb of Alexander Leshchinsky, a branch of Ukrtelecom of Rinat Akhmetov, Krymavtotrans, Krymenergo. The New York Times estimated the total value of the nationalized property at $1 billion."
“The new status of Crimea has resulted in serious problems for the tourism industry (6% of GRP and 10% of employment, and taking into account the shadow economy - 25%). Crimea was visited by 2014-3,3 million people in 4 compared to 5,9 million in 2013. The reduction in tourist flows and the redirection of economic ties to Russia led to a more than two-fold decrease in cargo turnover and passenger traffic by 37,7%. Construction froze (minus 58,3%). Trade turnover, despite rising prices, decreased by 7,3%.”
“Cut off from Ukrainian electricity, food, international services and water, Crimeans are nervous and hope for help from Russia. Residents see raider seizures of property and abuses by security forces. Some of the residents who welcomed joining Russia are disappointed with the new order, the “Varangians.” But Crimeans talk about this only on condition of anonymity (Crimea is small, it’s easy to find those who disagree), and there are no independent media on the peninsula at all.” “The majority, however, are positive,” the newspaper reluctantly admits.
In essence, the newspaper does not report anything new - the only peculiarity of the article is that it focuses only on the negative and does not take into account what is happening in Ukraine, as well as what would await the peninsula if it remained part of the latter after the coup.