Wow that made my eye cry...
Reparations for what fool? Crimea secedes during a coup from a non elected, illegal government. it was an "Autonomous Republic" subjected to Ukraine Gov as long as it was legal. The minut it wasnt, Crimeans could walk free.
Russians had no need to ask permissions, because transition gov being the illegal consequence of a coup, Crimea was De Jure, before De Facto indépendant.
As Texas would be if it choses so because Texas is attached to the US per treaty, as Crimea was attached to Ukraine Gov.
Remember that Crimea not just once but twice already voted out of Ukraine and was denied to do so.
so:
-Russia used military forces: yes, asked by crimean autonomous parliament if i recall
-Russia organized protests and take over: easy to say harder to prove why wouldnt crimeans guenuinely protest huh?
-Russia took charge of the region administration: indeed they didnt want ukie army to take it over.
-Russia shot and damaged Ukrainian Military Personnel: In Crimea? huh that's first news everybody agrees there were almost no shot fired at the time.
-Russia engineered a take over of another country legal territory: as i explained, the minut the gov was illegal in Kiev the status of autonomous republic of Crimea was independant!
-Russia organised "a referendum" it is impossible to take seriously, as it was conducted without verified observers from recognised international organisations: there were observers from french UMP, FN, DLF parties but i might point out recognized by whom?
-Russia did not attempt to solve the issue by talking to the new Ukrainian leadership, before they took action. : Why should they have bothered to talk to an illegal and hostile non elected gov?
-Russia took advantage of the fact that Ukraine was extendig a huge favor to them by lettimg them have a large naval/military base on their territory, and backstabbed them in the worst possible way:
Yanukovich had, but who could pretend the illegal and hostile transition gov would not have cut the deal after all? May i point out the fact that he was legally, "and under OSCE scrutiny" elected?
-Russia removed discounts on gas, agreed upon as payment for the lease of said base, adding to Ukraines loss: when you got a lease, but finally get your hand on the product, you dont generally continue to pay the lease from the goodness of your heart.
Russia bypassed all international law. And there was never an attempt to try and solve it by legal means: What law? i'd like to point out that even if Crimea hadnt been independant after the coup (and it legally was) internationnal law point out to first: "the right of people to dispose of themselves" and second US and Otan set up the Kosovo precedent that shows very clearly that you dont need the approval of previous country to secede form it. But as i said Criméa was de jure independant so that precedent dont even matters.