The only crime regarding Crimea at around that time was Tatar genocide performed by yet another non-elected leader so much beloved and supported by russians.
Beloved still today, because he made/makes them feel superior.
Reminds me a bit of another leader around that same period. He also made his countrymen feel superior. That one is not beloved today anymore, and maybe that's the reason why that population was able to transform into a normal democratic country.
