If Russia's claim to Crimea legitamate?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What does 'legitimate' even mean in this context? What it was was a military conquest; i.e. historically the usual way that international boundaries have changed, but vaguely frowned on these days.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

But the means by which the referendum was done means that the claim that Crimea is now part of Russia is illegitimate.

No, no, the Crimea is very clearly part of Russia now and there's no particular point in denying that (unless you're a diplomat or something). But it was incorporated into the Russian state in a manner that is no longer regarded as entirely proper (even if it was historically just the way things were done), a fact not changed (not one bit) by the hilariously crass rubber stamping via questionable plebiscite.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Tatar is the usual spelling in English, but Tartar (which is actually the older spelling. And the historical region - when mentioned at all - is always Tartary) is still sometimes used.