Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire

The results of the parliamentary elections held in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, do not have legal validity for Turkey, the foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sept. 20.

The speaker of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, Deputy Prime Minister Georghy Muradov, Economy Minister Valentin Demidov and representatives from the Crimean culture, education and tourism sector took part in a debate on Friday in the Russian House in Belgrade as part of a visit aimed at boosting economic ties with Serbia.

An unofficial Turkish delegation arrived in Crimea and began meetings on April 29 in order to examine alleged human rights violations against Crimean Tatars. A route offered by Russia, which has symbolic significance owing to the Russian annexation of Crimea, won out as the travel plan of the delegation despite the recent diplomatic row between Moscow and Ankara.