; and (2) the international community should conduct a full investigation into allegations that the Russian Federation committed war crimes through its military actions in Syria. 204. Prohibitions against United States recognition of the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea and occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia (a) United States policy against recognition of territorial changes effected by force alone Between the years of 1940 and 1991, the United States did not recognize the forcible incorporation and annexation of the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia into the Soviet Union under a policy known as the Stimson Doctrine . (b) Non-Recognition of sovereignty of Russian Federation over Crimea and independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia No Federal agency shall take any action or extend any assistance that recognizes or implies any recognition of— (1) the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea or its airspace or territorial waters; or (2) the de jure or de facto independence of South Ossetia or Abkhazia, or the airspace or territorial waters of South Ossetia or Abkhazia, from Georgia. (c) Department of Justice affirmation of non-Recognition of sovereignty of Russian Federation over Crimea and independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia In any matter before any United States court, upon request of the court or any party to the matter, the Attorney General shall affirm the United States policies of not recognizing— (1) the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea or its airspace or territorial waters