'..No credible government or international organization accepts Russia's description of the annexation as a legal democratic act by the Crimean people..'<blockquote>'A ruling by a British court that the Russian government ordered or abetted the murder of Litvinenko would have far-reaching consequences. It would strengthen the European Parliament's call for an independent international investigation of the murder of the Russian opposition political leader Boris Nemtsov, and bolster his family's petition for an international investigation.
Finally, while Russia has established de facto control of Crimea, it is likely to find itself increasingly embroiled in legal challenges to its presence there. No credible government or international organization accepts Russia's description of the annexation as a legal democratic act by the Crimean people. The United Nations, the G7, the European Union, and the United States all characterize it as an illegal act. In May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described it — in Putin's presence — as "criminal and illegal under international law."
In June, Ukraine presented Russia with a 17-volume calculation of its losses from the annexation of Crimea, totaling nearly $90 billion. Additional losses could be billed for the Russian-supported war in southeast Ukraine, which has led to 6,000 deaths and large-scale damage to infrastructure.'
- Paul R. Gregory,
International Rulings Put Russia Under Pressure, August 18, 2015</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>
'Russia .. has to withdraw from Ukraine to gain relief from Western sanctions..'Crime of Aggression - '..aggressive war-making is illegal and criminal.''Boris [Nemtsov] was one of the most problematic politicians for the Kremlin.'</blockquote>