Putin visits Crimea to mark 5th anniversary of annexation

Couldn't the people of Crimea choose which country they wanted to be part of with open elections and a carefully worked out plan to allow the transfer, instead of an invasion?

"arbitrary detentions, arrest, and torture" 

Tactics long used by totalitarian states. Same as it ever was. If Putin's Eurasian Economic Union succeeds along with China's Belt and Road, look for even greater examples of the above.