History:

Crimea is located as a peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

It sits at the southern end of the democratic country of Ukraine.  The primary language is Russian but Ukrainian and Tatar languages are also heard among the people.

A Brief History of Crimea:

9th -13th century Turkic tribes and Mongol Tatars enter the region.
14th -17th century Crimea forms its own Khanate as a part of Ottoman empire under Genghis Khan
1783 Russian Cossacks occupy Crimea under the orders of Katherine of Russia.

1854 - 1856   The Crimean War, lasting from 1854 to 1856, was fought between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia. The majority of the conflict took place around the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea.  After a dispute with the Ottoman Empire over the guardianship of several holy towns in Palestine, Russia invaded Moldavia and Walachia, both vassals of the Ottoman Empire, resulting in a declaration of war by the Ottomans in late 1853. The Ottomans were joined by Britain and France on March 28, 1854, and by Sardinia in January 1855. Austria also threatened to enter the war on the Ottoman side, causing the Russians to withdraw from the occupied areas, which were subsequently occupied by the Austrians in August 1854.  The following month, allied troops landed in the Crimea and besieged the city of Sevastopol. The city was finally captured in September 1855. In the same year, the Russians occupied the Turkish/Armenian city of Kars.  After the occupation of Sevastopol and the accession of Alexander II peace negotiations began. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1856) and  became famous for military and logistical incompetence. The scandalous treatment of wounded soldiers, which was covered by war media, prompted the work of Florence Nightingale , introducing modern nursing methods. Tolstoy was able to use his Crimean War experiences in his book "War and Peace" about the Russian/Napoleonic war and The Crimean War was also the first in which use was made of railways. (source= wikipedia.org ) 

1917 - 1918 Crimea briefly declares its independence. In the years that follow, approximately 1,25 million people flee to Turkey, Romania and Caucasus. 
1928 Crimea receives the status of Autonomous Soviet Republic. 
1941 German troops invade Crimea during WWII.  Tatars are split between those who become Partisans for the Russians and fight as rebels against the Germans, and those who join and assist the Germans to get rid of the Russians.

1944 Soviet troops regain control of the peninsula and deport the entire indigenous population by rail in a period of 48 hours in retaliation for their disloyalty. The Tatars are sent to Siberia, Uzbekistan and other inhospitable places.  One town is missed during this deportation and when the oversight is discovered, the villagers are placed on a boat and the boat is sunk.

For 10years, each head of household is required to weekly report to a local official or face dire consequences.

1954 Stalin dies in 1953 and measures against the Tatars are eased.  

1967 The Parliament of the Soviet Union officially recognize the injustice of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars ordered by Stalin but still forbid Crimean Tatars to return to their homeland. 
1988 Crimean Tatars are officially allowed to return to their homeland. 
1991 The Crimean Tatar Parliament, ?Milli Mejlis? is founded and national sovereignty declared.

1992 Crimea proclaims independence on May 5, 1992 but later it agreed to become an autonomous territory in the Ukraine. 
1996 A new Constitution of the Ukraine is adapted containing all the safeguards for a democratic, non-ethnic state and granting everyone the right to have a free choice to residence.