Southern Federal District

Turkey is set to fully finance the construction of Crimea?s largest mosque, Crimea?s grand mufti said Sept. 28.

Crimea Autonomous Republic Grand Mufti Emir Ali Ablayev said the Russian administration had approved the project, which they had been trying to implement for 10 years ? before the time Crimea joined Russia.

Crimea kicked off celebrations Monday to mark one year since a controversial vote that led to Russia's annexation of the peninsula, a historic shift blasted by the West and Ukraine as an illegal takeover.
      

The Russian ambassador to Turkey has called on Turkish businessmen to remain in the Russian market, despite the depreciation of the ruble, which has deeply impacted a number of Turkish investors in the country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 20 new Western sanctions against Ukraine's Crimea region were a "collective punishment" on residents who voted last March to join Russia, adding it was preparing to retaliate. 

BELGRADE - The cases of Crimea and Kosovo, whose declaration of independence opened room for redrawing of borders in the world and served as encouragement for secessionist movements, should not be viewed in equal light, participants said during the debate entitled 'From Kosovo to Crimea: Unilateral moves and manipulation involving the right to self-determination'.